Jessika Ziglar/04-18-08 11:25 pm/Pollution
Aggregate Industries, a contractor and construction materials manufacturer in Massachusetts, must pay a fine of $587,000 for violating the state's Clean Air Act. By ignoring of the emissions regulations, Aggregate actually saved money in the long run.
The company is accused of burning high-sulfur oil and 500,000 more gallons of waste oil than allowed by the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws. In addition to paying a penalty, Aggregate must also agree to burn 50% more natural gas and reduce the use of toxic sulfur gas. Aggregate is also accused of not properly maintaining pollution emission and fuel usage at its various asphalt plants.
If the company complies with the agreement, which includes hiring an independent auditor to watch and suggest changes to the company, the state will waive up to $75,000 in penalties.
This is another example of how environmental laws are essentially useless when it comes to profit driven businesses. The laws have to involve more than mere penalties which obviously aren't a deterrent since this company SAVED money by continuing to spew massive amounts of pollution into the air.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1087681&srvc=rss
I agree that there has to be some other way to control what people do about the environment because it was a good idea to put the clean air act into effect. But if it doesnt effect anyone or prevent them from doing anything then it is no good to start with. There has to be a way to monitor what people are doing and finding another way to punish them because obviously to the big corporations they see no problem in paying a little fine so that they can do what they want.
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