The Legislature finds that:

(1) Nebraska has the authority as a sovereign state to protect its land and natural resources for economic and aesthetic purposes for the benefit of its residents and future generations by regulation through approval or disapproval of major oil pipeline siting and the location of routes, so long as it does not regulate in the area of safety as to the design, installation, inspection, emergency plans and procedures, testing, construction, extension, operation, replacement, and maintenance of major oil pipelines and pipeline facilities;

(2) The water and other natural resources in Nebraska will become increasingly valuable, both economically and strategically, as the demand for agricultural products for both food and fuel increases;

(3) The construction of major oil pipelines in Nebraska is in the public interest of Nebraska and the nation to meet the increasing need for energy; and

(4) The irrigation economy of Nebraska which relies on quality water adds over one billion dollars annually to net farm income and increases the gross state product by three billion dollars annually.