Environmental LawEnvironmental LawNick Johnson

Understanding Business and Personal Law

What to think about?What to think about?EQ: What environmental

problems do we face in our society today?

EQ: What is my responsibility in protecting the environment?

EQ: What are the consequences of businesses not following federal statues that relate to the environment?

Things we can control:Things we can control:Energy Consumption

◦*Energy Star* Appliances◦CFL Lightbulbs

RecyclingProper Trash Dumping

Environmental Protection Environmental Protection AgencyAgencyEnforces antipollution acts (i.e., The

Clean Air and Clean Water Acts) Regulates: various hazardous

chemicals◦Creation◦Marketing◦Use

Cleanups of toxic dumpsites around the country

Businesses have a Social Responsibility◦Business Plan portion from Business

Essentials

ResourcesResourcesNon-renewable vs. Renewable

◦Examples?Scarce natural resources-

ConservationPollution – created by us (what

super hero?)Production- lakes, rivers, air

(factories, automobiles, etc)◦Socially Responsible companies

improve or change

Government RegulationsGovernment RegulationsSet measurably (achievable)EPA regulates and monitors

◦Founded in 1970NEPA (National Environmental

Policy Act)◦Counsel on Environmental Quality

Advises President on how to better economic development

Environmental Impact Statement Submitted to state when something is "significantly

affecting the quality of the human environment".

More Gov’t RegulationsMore Gov’t Regulations Noise Control Act of 1972

Motor Vehicles and Aircraft Heating/Ventilation (HVAC) Major Appliances

Clean Air Act Pollutants Smog

Clean Water Amendment The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

of 1976 ◦ Identifies hazardous wastes◦ Require permit for hazardous waste treatment and

storage facilities CERCLA

◦ Trust Fund for clean ups◦ When “responsible” party cannot be found◦ Also known as “Superfund”