Environmental Law Nick Johnson Understanding Business and Personal Law

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: Energy Consumption ◦ *Energy Star* Appliances ◦ CFL Lightbulbs Recycling Proper Trash Dumping

Environmental Protection Agency Enforces 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

Resources Non-renewable vs. Renewable ◦ Examples? Scarce natural resources- Conservation Pollution – created by us (what super hero?) Production- lakes, rivers, air (factories, automobiles, etc) ◦ Socially Responsible companies improve or change

Government Regulations Set measurably (achievable) EPA regulates and monitors ◦ Founded in 1970 NEPA (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 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”