(a) The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The discharge of pollutants to Delaware’s air and water, and the management and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes in Delaware’s environment can create significant risks to public health and environmental quality;

(2) The protection of Delaware’s coastal zone and subaqueous lands from environmental degradation is a matter of public trust as demonstrated by the enactment of the Delaware Coastal Zone Act, Chapter 70 of Title 7, and the Delaware Subaqueous Lands Act, Chapter 72 of Title 7;

(3) The public has a right to clean air and water, and otherwise to a healthy environment; and

(4) Because of the importance of these resources to the health and welfare of Delaware citizens, the State has a right and responsibility to ensure that those regulated parties obtaining permits to discharge pollutants, manage wastes, or make commercial use of the coastal zone and the State’s subaqueous lands can be trusted to carry out the responsibilities and conditions of these permits.

(b) It is the purpose of this subchapter to ensure that the State has adequate information about the background of applicants or regulated parties for the purposes of processing permits and conducting other regulatory activities associated with stormwater management, NPDES, oil pollution liability, air, hazardous waste, solid waste, commercial subaqueous, wetlands, coastal zone, underground storage tank, extremely hazardous substances, hazardous substances cleanup and emergency planning and community right-to-know under the authority of Chapters 40, 60, 62, 63, 66, 70, 72, 74, 74A, 77, 78 and 91 of this title, Chapter 63 of Title 16, and § 8028 of Title 29. This includes the ability to identify applicants or regulated parties with histories of environmental violations or criminal activities and/or associations or applicants who cannot demonstrate the required responsibility, expertise or competence which is necessary for the proper operation or activity permitted by the Department.

(c) The purpose of chronic violator status is to provide a mechanism for preventing or correcting circumstances in which:

(1) One or more of the traditional enforcement tools and regulatory programs of the Department appear insufficient to conform behavior and deter future violations by the regulated party; or

(2) The regulated party appears to be treating penalties and other sanctions as merely an on-going business expense rather than as symptomatic of underlying problems and threats to the State’s environment that must be addressed and corrected.

68 Del. Laws, c. 419, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 5; 78 Del. Laws, c. 177, §§ 1-3.