The general assembly hereby finds and declares the following to be the public policy of this state:

(A) That the off-site treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste and the off-site disposal of solid wastes, including incineration, and transfer of solid wastes are critical components of the economic structure of this state and, when properly controlled and regulated, make substantial contributions to the general welfare, health, and prosperity of the state and its inhabitants by minimizing the serious health and environmental threats inherent in the management of these wastes;

(B) That the regulatory provisions of this chapter are designed to extend strict state regulation to those persons involved in the operations of these permitted activities so as to foster and justify the public confidence and trust in the credibility and integrity of the conduct of these activities;

(C) That the solid and hazardous waste management industries in this state can attain, maintain, and retain integrity, public confidence, and trust, and promote the general public interest, only under a system of control and regulation that precludes the participation therein of persons with known criminal records and excludes or removes from any position of authority or responsibility any person known to be so deficient in reliability, expertise, or competence with specific reference to the solid or hazardous waste management industries that his participation in them would create or enhance the danger of unsound, unfair, or illegal practices, methods, and activities in the conduct of the business of the industries;

(D) That strict licensing standards will help ensure that members of the waste management industry in this state will continue to maintain standards of professionalism and responsibility;

(E) That it therefore is vital to the interests of this state to prevent either direct or indirect entry into the operations of the off-site solid waste disposal and transfer and the off-site hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal, industries of persons who are not competent and reliable or who have pursued economic gains in an occupational manner or context violative of the criminal code or civil public policies of this state, and it is to the end of excluding such persons from those industries that the regulatory and investigatory powers and duties provided in sections 3734.41 to 3734.47 of the Revised Code shall be exercised to the fullest extent consistent with law.

Effective Date: 06-24-1988.