Section 171. Purposes

It  is the purpose of this article to ensure a clean
  environment  and  healthy  economy  for  the  state  by  preventing  the
  unregulated  discharge of petroleum which may result in damage to lands,
  waters or natural resources of the state by authorizing  the  department
  of  environmental conservation to respond quickly to such discharges and
  effect prompt cleanup and  removal  of  such  discharges,  giving  first
  priority  to  minimizing  environmental  damage,  and  by  providing for
  liability for damage sustained within the state  as  a  result  of  such
  discharges.