§ 69-1. Legislative findings and intent.

A. 

The Town Board of the Town of North Hempstead finds and declares that it is in the best interests of the people of the Town that its waters and shorelines be preserved as a source of public and private recreation.

B. 

The Town Board further finds and declares that the preservation of this use is a matter of high urgency and priority and that such use can only be served by effectively preserving the shorelines, beaches and public and private land adjoining the shorefronts, taking into account the multiple use accommodations necessary to provide the broadest possible promotion of public and private interests.

C. 

The Town Board further finds and declares that the transfer of pollutants between vessels and between onshore facilities and vessels within the jurisdiction of the Town of North Hempstead's waters is a hazardous undertaking; that spills, discharges and escape of pollutants occurring as a result of procedures involved in the transfer, storage and transportation of such products pose threats of great danger and damage to the environment of the Town, to the owners and users of shorefront property, to public and private recreation, to the citizenry of the Town and other interests deriving livelihood from marine-related activities; that such hazards have occurred in the past and present future threats of potential catastrophic proportions, all of which are expressly declared to be inimical to the paramount interests of the Town as hereinafter set forth; and that such Town interests outweigh any economic burdens imposed by the Town Board upon those engaged in transferring pollutants and related activities.

D. 

The Town Board further finds and declares that the preservation of the public uses referred to herein is of grave public interest and concern to the Town in promoting health and providing for the public safety and that the Town's interest in such preservation outweighs any burdens of absolute liability imposed by this chapter upon those engaged in transferring pollutants and related activities.

E. 

The Town Board further declares that it is the intent of this chapter to support and implement federal and state laws now or hereafter to be enacted to prevent discharges of pollutants upon Town waters and to ensure timely, efficient, coordinated, effective action to minimize damage resulting from pollution from oil and other discharges.

F. 

The Town Board further finds that the interests of the residents will best be served by comprehensive regulation to ensure that boats which are used upon the waterways of the Town are operated in a safe manner.