Tough New Environmental Laws to be Implemented Next Year?

Today's Legalbrief reports that "Polluting industries have been warned the Green Scorpions will be implementing tough new environmental legislation next year, says a Saturday Star report. This is contained in the Environmental National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement 2008/2009 report, which reveals environmental inspectors reported numerous cases of non-compliance at operations, including the ArcelorMittal steel complex in Newcastle, Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging, as well as Highveld Steel, Sasol in Secunda and Xtrata Wonderkop, in Rustenburg. These ranged from excessive air pollution, illegal waste sites and contravention of environmental impact assessment decisions. But the report notes these facilities often escape harsh penalties with companies being given the opportunity to make representations or respond ‘positively’ to inspectors' verdicts. ‘New legislation regulating both waste and air quality, which should begin in the next financial year, will provide the mechanisms needed to ensure more effective enforcement,’ the report notes." [Subscription needed for full report].