New Jersey's Offshore Wind Economic Development Act: Language of Forward-Looking Legislation Presents Opportunities for Potential Challenges and Claims

The New Jersey Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (“Act”) sets precedent by establishing offshore wind renewable energy certificates (“ORECs”). To launch the OREC program and assist supply chain development, the Act incentivizes construction of in-state offshore wind manufacturing facilities by offering companies fund awards and new tax credits. The Act, nevertheless, may be subject to challenges because (a) only qualified wind energy facilities located in one area of the state are eligible for certain tax credits and (b) due to vague statutory language, disputes could arise regarding who, exactly, bears the financial risk for underwater and onshore transmission construction.     

环境权立法的困境与出路

环境权产生于环境危机时代 ,一开始就面临许多困境。实际上 ,环境权体现的是公民与国家之间的权利义务关系 ,即公民的环境权和国家的环境职责。它已经不同于法学界过去惯常所宣称的权利义务的一致性和对等性 ,而体现为权利义务的错位和不对等性。我国应该走环境权宪法化、具体化和公民权化的道路。     

当代中国环境犯罪刑法立法及其完善研究

从1979年第一部《刑法》出台到1997年新《刑法》修订,再到2011年《刑法修正案(八)》)颁布,中国环境犯罪刑法立法不断补充修正,形成了中国环境刑法的基本规范与格局。目前,中国环境犯罪刑法立法在立法体例、罪名体系和刑罚处罚等方面都存在一些不足,亟待立法的进一步完善。首先,要确立科学的环境犯罪刑法立法体例,将刑法典分则第六章第六节规定的环境犯罪罪名从该章中独立出来,单独成立一章,并将分散在刑法典各章节中有关环境犯罪的规定纳入其中;其次,中国环境犯罪急需增设以下5个罪名,以完善环境犯罪的罪名体系,即破坏草原罪、破坏湿地罪、虐待动物罪、破坏自然保护区罪和抗拒环保行政监督管理罪;再次,应完善环境犯罪罪名的构成要件要素,扩张环境犯罪对象的范围、扩展危害行为的类型。最后,应完善环境犯罪的刑罚适用原则和刑罚适用种类。     

国际生态环境问题及其对我国环境立法的启示

当今一系列的生态环境问题 ,包括生物多样性锐减、森林面积减少、土地资源状况恶化、水环境恶化、气候变暖等已日趋国际化 ,严重危及到整个人类的生存。这些问题往往是在各国国内进行的国际法未加禁止行为造成的。在这样的情况下 ,本文指出了当今我国生态环境保护立法方面的缺陷 ,其中涉及到管理体制、立法意识、现行法律本身等问题。面对这些问题 ,文章指出我国生态环境立法要加快与国际接轨 ,树立风险防范原则的立法理念等一系列措施 ,以达到可持续发展的目的。     

欧盟环境责任立法对中国的启示

欧盟环境侵权赔偿立法的整个过程,对环境损害的救济方式经历了由民法为主向行政法的转变。前后立法模式的变化,对环境损害赔偿法的体系、功能和运行产生了深远的影响。欧盟的一些国家在环境民事赔偿责任领域通过了被认为具有先驱性的单行法,这些法律在责任主体、适用范围、责任基础、举证责任、赔偿范围等方面做出了非常细致的规定。我国正在着手制定环境损害赔偿法,欧盟环境侵权赔偿立法对我国具有重要的借鉴意义。     

论地方环境立法公正和效率价值的平衡

我国地域辽阔,域内自然环境差别较大,其决定了地方环境立法居于不可或缺的地位。地方环境立法应兼顾公正和效率价值平衡,并坚持"效率优先、实现公正"的立法价值取向。地方政府应当对当地新生环境问题结合当地经济、技术、自然实际情况及环境保护的需要及时立法,并对不适时的地方法规进行及时修改,实现地方环境法制系统公正和效率价值的最大化追求。     

环境损害赔偿立法框架和内容的思考

环境损害赔偿立法的必要性由现实社会关系调整的必要性和现行相关立法的不适应性所决定。我国环境损害赔偿立法宜采取实体和程序一体、行政处理与司法处理一体的立法模式,并着重规定环境纠纷处理和环境损害赔偿方面所涉及的一些特殊问题。立法框架和内容主要包括环境损害赔偿的适用条件、环境损害赔偿的范围、环境损害赔偿责任的认定、环境损害赔偿纠纷的行政处理、环境损害赔偿的司法处理等部分。环境损害赔偿立法的难点在于环境行政主管机关处理决定的法律效力问题以及因果关系推定的准确表述问题。     

What You Should Know About Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) for Environmental Claims

The rapid evolution of legal and regulatory developments related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has already resulted in some high-dollar legal settlements and is expected to generate numerous environmental claims. Currently, most major PFAS sites are associated with the primary chemical production of select PFAS and the application of fire-fighting foams at airfields, refineries, fire training facilities and bulk fuel-storage facilities. In addition, PFAS are also used in the manufacture of consumer products designed to resist heat, stains, grease, water and reduce friction. Manufacturing facilities that produce these products may discharge PFAS to wastewater treatment plants, which are not designed to remove PFAS, and thus become dischargers also. The ultra-low detection limits and regulatory thresholds for PFAS, combined with the manufacturing and use of numerous PFAS-containing products, suggests the number of sites that require PFAS cleanup will increase in the coming years and decades. Therefore, understanding current capabilities and limitations of sampling, remediation, and forensics is critical to assessing PFAS-related environmental claims.     

宏观调控立法特点及其新发展

宏观调控法是经济法体系三个基本构成之一.其在立法上具有立法内容上的多样性和变动性,授权立法和多级立法较多,执法主体自由裁量权较大,大量采用提倡性、任意性规范等特点.随着我国日益融入国际市场经济,社会化、民主化和国际化特征也逐步成为其核心之一.在立法中要对宏观调控权的行使程序作出明确规定,建立公开制度、咨询制度、听证制度、协商制度,逐步改变对管理者的法律义务、法律控制甚为薄弱的局面,将包括宏观调控法在内的经济法构建为一种控权(力)法和维权法(利)法.     

Microbial Sampling and Data Interpretation for Problematic Buildings: Considerations for Construction Related Environmental Claims

Bioaerosol data is often used in cases of building mold infestation alleging damage or adverse health effects upon occupants, despite the lack of consistent sampling and analytical protocols and numerical health-based standards. The most fundamental problem in these scenarios is defining a “significant” difference between a suspect indoor environment and the reference environment, regardless of the type of sampling and analysis utilized. Data interpretation focused upon differences in absolute numerical concentrations of fungi is subject to wide differences in expert opinion. On the other hand, an objective quantification of differences can be expressed in terms of probability and better meets criteria established in evidentiary rules.     

论环境纠纷处理与环境损害赔偿专门立法

环境纠纷的日益增多和公民环境维权意识的不断提高 ,需要制定专门的立法解决环境纠纷和维护公民的环境权利。该立法的制定不仅有利于环境法体系的完善 ,而且也可以在一定程度上弥补民法和民事诉讼法的不足。国外已经有环境纠纷处理和损害赔偿专门立法的成功经验可供借鉴。我国的环境纠纷处理和环境损害赔偿立法应当采取实体和程序一体的立法模式 ,并着重规定在环境纠纷处理和环境损害赔偿方面所涉及的一些特殊问题。     

三十年来我国的环境立法与执法

改革开放三十年来,我国的环境立法已经形成了以宪法为基础,以环境保护法为环境保护基本法的环境法律体系。我国环境立法的基本原则是科学性原则、民主性原则和合宪性原则。同时,已经建立起由全国人民代表大会立法监督,各级政府负责实施,环境保护行政主管部门统一监督管理,各有关部门依照法律规定实施监督管理的环境管理体制。但应该指出的是,中国的环境法制建设还需要进一步完善。     

中德环境立法差异及对我国的启示

环境立法是衡量一个国家法制建设和环境管理水平的重要标志.首先介绍中、德两国环境立法的发展历程,然后通过比较中德两国在环境立法目的、原则、侵权损害赔偿和法律体系方面的特点和差异,借鉴德国环境保护立法成功经验,对完善我国环保立法提出四点建议.     

论全球环境立法趋同化的根源及现实表征

当前由于国际环境合作交流的日益加强,各国间相互吸收他国环境保护立法成功经验的趋势日益彰显．全球环境立法从而进一步表现出明显的趋同化态势。这种现象有着深刻思想和文化根源,也是传统法对环境保护之不足的反作用的结果。可以预见,全球环境立法的趋同化已经成为当前世界各国环境立法发展的一种基本趋势和运行常态。     

Holes in the Whole: Considerations on the Made Whole Doctrine and Its Applicability to Environmental Claims

Nearly all states recognize the principle of the made whole rule which mandates that an insured be fully compensated for its loss before its insurer is reimbursed for its payouts. Some states apply the rule to an insured's overall loss, while others engage in an element-by-element examination of damages and allow an insurer to seek reimbursement once the insured has recovered its insured losses. States also take varying approaches on whether, and in what circumstances, insurers can expand their subrogation-like rights by contract. This article sets out a brief history of equitable and legal subrogation and the made whole rule; discusses various applications of the rule and related equitable issues, such as the allocation of attorneys fees for third-party recoveries that benefit both insured and insurer; and offers practice tips for insureds and counsel facing environmental claims.