Section 72-0101. Declaration of policy

The  legislature  of  the  state  of  New  York  hereby  declares that
  comprehensive environmental regulatory management programs are essential
  to protect New York state's environmental  resources  and  the  public's
  health  and  welfare.  It further declares that those regulated entities
  which use or have an  impact  on  the  state's  environmental  resources
  should  bear the costs of the regulatory provisions which permit the use
  of these resources  in  a  manner  consistent  with  the  environmental,
  economic and social needs of the state. The legislature further declares
  that  regulatory  fees  are an appropriate mechanism to pay a portion of
  the costs of the department's regulatory functions and  programs  and  a
  portion  of  the  costs  to fund the cleanup of inactive hazardous waste
  disposal sites and that  such  fees  should  be  borne  by  the  state's
  regulated   entities   in   order  to  further  strengthen  the  state's
  capabilities to achieve  its  environmental  quality  objectives.    The
  legislature  further  declares that the department's regulatory programs
  and corresponding costs vary according  to  certain  relevant  technical
  criteria which shall be considered in determining adjustments to fees as
  provided in this chapter.