M5 AM Managing Environment Issues for the Next 25 Years: The Role of Science
Monday, 14 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in 321-323

(ERI-1117-826464) Consequences of Environmental Responsibility: Law, Justice or Politics?

Erickson, C¹, ¹ none, Shenandoah, VA, USA

ABSTRACT- Environmental intimidation by large corporate entities and/or their political ties has been an ongoing phenomenon for many years in the field in which environmental professionals are employed, yet seemingly little visibility has been brought forward to these civil and often criminal acts, due to fear/intimidation of the victims, and settlement by the corporate entities engaged in these events. The fact that these acts occur, and continue to occur, as attested by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, other federal and state employees (both victims and non-victims), as well as victims of the civil and often criminal acts, suggests professionalism run astray. This paper will present some brief history of environmental intimidation, some of which will have been brought to media attention, others of which through case trials, or attempted case trials. The presentation will attempt to detail at least three case studies, and an examination of what happened, what should have happened, and lessons learned. The objective of this paper is 1) to shed some light on the darker side of the environmental profession, and 2) to ask the question what can we, as environmental professionals, do to prevent it?

Key words: environmental intimidation, justice, law, policy