Environmental law governs the relationship between human activity and the natural environment. It sets rules intended to protect air, water, land, and natural resources, and it addresses responsibility for pollution and environmental harm.
Common topics include regulations on emissions and discharges, the handling and disposal of waste and hazardous materials, permits required for activities that affect the environment, the cleanup of contaminated property, and the environmental review of projects and development. The field involves government agencies, businesses, landowners, and communities, and it blends regulatory compliance with the resolution of disputes.
Key concepts a non-lawyer should understand include the heavily regulated nature of activities that affect the environment, with agencies setting and enforcing standards; the idea that responsibility for contamination can attach to current and sometimes former owners of affected property, even without direct fault; and the existence of permitting and review processes that often must be completed before certain projects can move forward. Both compliance failures and environmental harm can carry significant consequences.
This area is relevant to businesses whose operations affect the environment, property owners dealing with contamination, developers planning projects, and communities concerned about environmental impacts. People and organizations typically consult an environmental lawyer for permitting and compliance, to address contamination on a property, or to handle an enforcement action or environmental dispute.
