Declares that it is the purpose of this act and the policy of the state of Washington to ensure cleanup and compliance at sites at which hazardous wastes have seriously contaminated the environment and where ongoing violations of chapter 70.105D RCW are projected to take more than twenty years to complete the cleanup and compliance. It is further the purpose of this act to ensure public involvement in the cleanup of these sites.

Declares that it is further the policy of the state to ensure cleanup and compliance at these sites before permitting the addition of more waste that is not generated from the cleanup of the site, and which may add to long-term cumulative impacts to health and the environment, until the hazardous waste on-site has been cleaned up and is stored, treated, or disposed of in compliance with all state and federal laws.

Declares that it is further the policy of the state to discontinue the use of, and ensure characterization and remediation of, unlined trenches where hazardous wastes have been disposed. These policies must guide state action for approval of plans, permits, orders, or agreements under the federal facility compliance act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 6961 et seq.). It is not the intent of this act to interfere with the transportation, manufacturing, storage, or use of any hazardous substance necessary for medical research, medical treatment, manufacturing or industrial processes, or national defense.