In the near future, we will be introducing legislation that would allow citizens to take civil actions against those who violate Pennsylvania’s environmental laws or those who fail to enforce those laws. As highlighted in the Attorney General’s
43rd Statewide Investigative Grand Jury Report, the public is far too often left without an advocate when irresponsible or bad actors harm the environment.
Modeled after several federal environmental protection laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act, a citizen suit provision allows private citizens to take civil legal action against businesses, companies, or corporations that violate the law.
In addition, a citizen suit provision would allow private citizens to take civil legal action against state agencies that fail to enforce the provisions of the law.
The citizen suit provision would be added to the following:
- Solid Waste Management Act
Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation that creates additional mechanisms for Pennsylvanians to guarantee their Article 1 Section 27 constitutional rights to clean air and pure water.