N.Y. Navigation Law § 171: Purposes

§ 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.