The U.S. government is getting tougher on companies and corporate executives responsible for polluting the environment.
Criminal prosecutions of environmental violators, which numbered 40 in 1983, rose to 134 in 1990, according to J. Michael Nolan, partner with the law firm Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch.He says 258 corporations and 552 individuals have been indicted for environmental crimes since 1983.
A total of $72,590,750 in criminal penalties was assessed, and more than 361 years of imprisonment imposed.
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Nolan says that since the government began enforcing environmental laws with criminal prosecution instead of civil proceedings, cases have been concluded in months instead of years.