| Since the dawning of the Industrial Revolution, big | | | | 4. Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Ohio- 11.144 |
| businesses have been haphazardly dumping their toxic | | | | 5. Wayne (Detroit), Michigan- 8.270 |
| waste into nearby lakes, rivers, and streams, as well | | | | Permits |
| as pumping it up into the atmosphere at alarming rates. | | | | Increased pressure from environmental activists has |
| Only recently has the federal government implemented | | | | urged the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) to |
| laws aimed at reducing emissions. The Environmental | | | | require businesses to obtain permits for development. |
| Protections Agency now enforces federal standards; | | | | Common permits that new or expanding productions |
| however, a significant amount of damage has already | | | | businesses are required to obtain are: |
| been done to the Earth's sensitive ecosystems. | | | | Clean Air Act permits |
| Repercussions | | | | Endangered Species related permits |
| After decades of heavy industrial production without | | | | Resource Conservation and Recovery Act |
| any regulation, many ecosystems have already | | | | permits |
| suffered serious damages. Refineries and chemical | | | | Wetlands related permits |
| plants can produce an extraordinary amount of toxic | | | | Depending on the nature of your business, the location |
| emissions, such as green house cases, | | | | you intend to develop, and the scale of production, you |
| chlorofluorocarbon, and other by-products of oil, plastic, | | | | may not be required to obtain all four permits; |
| and coal production. | | | | however, if you fail to obtain a necessary permit, you |
| Many toxins are released through smokestacks that | | | | may face expensive fines from the EPA. |
| pollute the air. It has been estimated that occupants of | | | | The Future |
| areas surrounding these plants have been determined | | | | Increasing awareness about global warming and |
| to be 50% more likely to develop cancer. | | | | environmental damage has inspired many countries to |
| Polluted Cities | | | | create stricter emissions caps for businesses and |
| After public awareness about the consequences of | | | | automobiles. Unfortunately, however, much of the |
| green house gases increased, several studies tried to | | | | global industry is now located in China, the number one |
| determine what cities in America were producing the | | | | polluter in the world, and they have repeatedly failed to |
| most pollutants. An article published in Science Daily | | | | comply with international standards. It is unclear |
| reported the top 5 counties were: | | | | whether new restrictions will have the intended impact |
| 1. Harris (Houston,) Texas, with 18.625 million tons of | | | | and reverse the effects of global warming. |
| carbon per year | | | | For more information about environmental protections, |
| 2. Los Angeles, California-18.595 | | | | permits, and accommodations, contact the Texas |
| 3. Cook (Chicago), Illinois- 13.209 | | | | business attorneys of Slater Kennon & Jameson, LLP. |