PART II
                          PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES

   5. Purpose---(1) The purpose of this Act is to promote the sustainable
 management of natural and physical resources.

   (2) In this Act, ``sustainable management'' means managing the use,
 development, and protection of natural and physical resources in a way,
 or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their
 social, economic, and cultural wellbeing and for their health and safety
 while---
   (a) Sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources
         (excluding minerals) to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of
         future generations; and
   (b) Safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil, and
         ecosystems; and
   (c) Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of
         activities on the environment.