N.Y. Navigation Law § 170: Legislative intent

§ 170. Legislative intent. The legislature finds and declares that New

York's lands and waters constitute a unique and delicately balanced

resource; that the protection and preservation of these lands and waters

promotes the health, safety and welfare of the people of this state;

that the tourists and recreation industry dependent on clean waters and

beaches is vital to the economy of this state; that the state is the

trustee, for the benefit of its citizens, of all natural resources

within its jurisdiction; and that the storage and transfer of petroleum

between vessels, between facilities and vessels, and between facilities,

whether onshore or offshore, is a hazardous undertaking and imposes

risks of damage to persons and property within this state.

The legislature finds and declares that the discharge of petroleum

within or outside the jurisdiction of this state constitutes a threat to

the economy and environment of this state. The legislature intends by

the passage of this article to exercise the powers of this state to

control the transfer and storage of petroleum and to provide liability

for damage sustained within this state as a result of the discharge of

said petroleum by requiring prompt cleanup and removal of such pollution

and petroleum, and to provide a fund for swift and adequate compensation

to resort businesses and other persons damaged by such discharge.