Residents in West Virginia may benefit from learning more about some examples of federal environmental crimes. According to the Department of Justice, federal environmental crimes are either classified as pollution crimes, wildlife crimes, animal welfare crimes and worker safety crimes. Some of the related offenses typically associated with federal environmental crimes include aiding and abetting, false claims, money laundering, mail fraud, perjury, and obstruction of justice, among others.
Pollution and Wildlife Crimes
These environmental crimes often involve someone violating federal acts and laws. Under pollution, crimes may relate to the Federal Insecticide and Fungicide Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, the Atomic Energy ct, the Deepwater Port Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, or the Federal Hazardous Material Transportation Law, among others. Some of the wildlife laws in place include migratory Bird conservation acts, the Whaling Convention Act, and several fishing laws, among others.
Animal Welfare and Worker Safety
Some of the animal welfare laws relate to the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act, the Animal Welfare, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, 7, Horse Protection Act, and the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, among others. Some of the worker safety federal crimes include violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, and the Mine Safety and Health Act (MSHA) of 1977.
Recent Environmental Cases
Owner-operators can be in violation of federal environmental acts simply by failing to clean storm drains in some circumstances. Defendants have been prosecuted for conspiring to circumvent or violate federal laws acts like the Clean Water Act. Asbestos use in residential dwellings has also been a point of contention in many of these cases. Violators may be individuals or large corporations.