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Environmental and Health
statutes, for example, address making false official statements to federal
officials.
Most environmental statutes permit citizen suits. Citizens may act
even as "Private Attorney Generals" to allege violations of federal law
and go to court even if EPA
does not agree. Some state laws also permit
citizen suits. In some cases, the government may investigate a situation
and decide to pursue some alternative correction mechanism instead of a
law suit. Private citizens, can gain access to the government's reports
(when the investigations might not even have been within their financial
means or authority) and go directly to a judge rather than having to wait for
the government's action.
The complexities of common law liability added to the incredible
array of statutory laws and regulations existing through multiple
government agencies at federal and state levels, plus the complications
of possible citizen suits under statutory law, should make any individual
dealing with hazardous substances take a realistic look not only at his or
her company's liabilities, but also at their own personal concerns. What
is your company's policy on defense of individuals and what is the extent
of the company's insurance coverage for damage actions? To protect
your company and yourself, one must be familiar with the legal re-
quirements and never knowingly violate them.
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