75-11-402. Findings and intent -- purposes. The legislature finds that:

(1) real properties exist across the state where the stigma of petroleum contamination hinders the development or best use of the property. These petroleum-contaminated properties may be eligible for petroleum brownfields funding.

(2) the cleanup of petroleum brownfields sites should be encouraged and facilitated to reduce threats to human health and the environment, prepare properties for reuse and redevelopment, and return property to local tax rolls;

(3) the petroleum tank release cleanup fund established in 75-11-313 is not sufficient to immediately address all petroleum tank release sites in Montana in a timely and comprehensive manner; and

(4) the department should encourage the use of federal brownfields money obtained by grant recipients for assessment and remediation at eligible petroleum brownfields sites and to leverage federal funds and limit costs imposed on Montana citizens.