All members of the community rely on healthy living conditions of the environment
. The Environmental Protection Agency use permits to establish limits or thresholds of certain substances that can be released into the environment. These levels keep everyone in the community safe. Any violation can have large financial penalties and may also include jail time.
A recent example of such a violation occurred when a man in Illinois was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $62,086 for damages and fines. The man was convicted of illegally removing, handling, transporting, and dumping asbestos. Every stage of the process put members of the community at risk. Hazardous substances, such as asbestos, have very specific methods for safe handling. Any step that was skipped would release material into the air. The microscopic fibers could then be carried in the air and cause serious health problems.
One mans actions could have an impact on hundreds of lives because he did not follow the proper steps to safely remove and dispose of a hazardous substance. This criminal dumped hundreds of unmarked garbage bags into an open field at a park. Any person passing by would have no idea of the danger they were in by even being in the vicinity of the bags. The garbage bags are not adequate for containing the substance and could have easily torn and allowed dangerous dust particles to float away in the wind.
The EPA has a reason to each and every policy to protect public health and safety. One of the safe guards used is through the Environmental Permit process. The process ensures safety measures are being taken each step of the way. An Environmental Consultant can aid in the process of applying for the permits needed for a business to safely operate.
Click here to contact an Environmental Consultant to aid your company in obtaining the proper permits. The Consultant may aid in identifying what permits are required to operate legally. Some circumstances may require a few modifications to be within compliance. The sooner the facility is up to code and approved, the faster production can begin. Regular scheduled visits from the Environmental Consultant can ensure the working environment continues to comply with any new regulation, or helps with any new procedures that have been developed at the facility for a new type of production. Taking time to prepare now ensures time will not be wasted in the future with any unnecessary delays.