(A) The General Assembly finds:

(1) The existing commercial land disposal facility in South Carolina and available capacity in this State generally are limited resources;

(2) It is essential that the limited waste treatment and disposal capacity of the existing commercial facility and the State in general be preserved, ready and available to ensure that the needs of South Carolina are met first;

(3) The existing commercial land disposal facility as well as other hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities must give preference to hazardous waste generators within the State for treatment and disposal of hazardous materials at licensed facilities in the State;

(4) The General Assembly and the Executive Branch have mandated restrictions on the importation of out-of-state wastes and on the capacity of existing hazardous waste landfills; and

(5) Reducing the amount of hazardous waste shipped to South Carolina commercial facilities will send a message to all states that South Carolina intends to reduce to the greatest extent possible the amount of hazardous waste treated and disposed of in this State.

(B) Based upon these findings, the General Assembly declares that:

(1) Landfilling is the least desirable method of managing hazardous waste and, in order to reduce potential risks to human health and the environment, reliance on landfilling must be reduced or eliminated when alternative disposal methods which are technologically and economically feasible are reasonably available within the State, through regional agreements between states, or through other means; and

(2) As this State reduces its reliance on landfilling through its waste minimization practices and other means, the amount of hazardous waste being shipped into this State for landfilling from locations outside of the State should be reduced and eliminated also.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 590, Section 1.