Chap 1 & 3 vocab Flashcards
assimilative capacity
the ability of air, water, or soil to receive contaminants and cleanse itself without deleterious effects
causes of action
legal grounds for a civil lawsuit
dilution solution
the idea that water or air pollutants do not pose a problem if they are spread out widely enough, such as by the wind or ocean currents.
environmental assessment law
law requiring careful attention to enviro considerations in the planning and approval of new undertakings
environmental law
the body of legislated statue and common law that can be used to protect and improve environmental conditions
environmental regulatory law
law governing the discharge of harmful substances into the air and water and onto land
laws of general application
laws that apply to everyone and to all activities
negligence
failure to act reasonably, with the result being harm to someone else
nuisance
tort in which the defendant interferes with the use and enjoyment of the plaintiff’s property
planning and management regimes
legislative schemes that govern a sector, such as forests, fisheries, farmlands, and watersheds, with the purpose of maximizing the long-term benefits obtainable from the resource while minimizing the detrimental effects of its exploitation
sectoral laws
laws dealing with a resource sector (i.e. water), or an industrial sector (i.e. waste management)
standing
the right to sue
sustainable development
meets the needs of the present w/o compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
tort
a wrongful act, not including a breach of contract or trust, that results in injury to another person, and for which the injured party is entitled to compensation.
toxic control laws
laws designed to control the manufacture, use, sale, trasnport, storage, and disposal of toxic substances
