As a business owner, there are all sorts of laws that you need to be aware of and comply with. One area business owners often overlook is environmental laws. There has been heightened focus on these in recent years, and the consequences of breaching them can be incredibly serious.
Not only might you face the legal consequences of a breach, but you could also face significant public backlash, including from companies you might have been hoping to work with.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the national body tasked with ensuring businesses comply with environmental laws, but you may have to deal with more local government agencies as well.
You could end up in a criminal court
Breaches of environmental laws can sometimes do a lot of harm, so it should not be surprising that criminal allegations can result. Civil proceedings are also a possibility, perhaps from a member of the public who feels the government agencies are not doing enough to prevent your company from doing something or punish you for something you did.
Accurate record-keeping is key
As a business owner, you have overall responsibility for what goes on in your company. So, you need to put systems of checks and record-keeping in place to ensure things happen as they should and that incidents are noticed and dealt with appropriately.
Proper training of staff and choosing people you trust to work within the environmental rules can also help safeguard you and your company.
If you find yourself facing accusations of environmental wrongdoing, do not assume you can handle it alone. These are serious legal matters, and you should get appropriate help to deal with them.
