Non-compliance with EPA regulations isn’t something that businesses should take lightly. The range of consequences your business could face is vast and depends on your field and how tightly regulated it is. Some of the consequences of non-compliance include:

• Penalties And Fines:
  The most immediate outcome of non-compliance with environmental laws is hefty fines and penalties imposed by the respective regulatory bodies. These can easily run into the millions of dollars in some industries. Additional penalties may also be considered depending on the extent of the violation.
• Reputational Damage:
  Beyond any financial damage that your business may incur as a result of non-compliance, the more severe consequence is what such findings do to the business’s reputation. You may lose some of your customers and find it harder to retain others. Locating top talent might also be a challenge, as well as attracting potential investors if word gets out.
• Operational Disruptions:
  Non-compliance could also lead to operational disruptions and even shutdowns in some cases. These measures may be necessary to bring your facility and equipment up to code. While necessary, a disruption in operations could lead to downtime that results in a significant loss of revenue, market share and productivity.
• Higher Insurance Premiums And Legal Fees:
  Once insurance companies get wind of your non-compliance, they view your business as a high risk and increase their premiums. The legal work that comes with getting your company out of the legal crosshairs of non-compliance and potential environmental claims is also substantial and will add to your costs.
• Environmental Remediation Costs:
  In events where your non-compliance has caused damage to the environment, you may be required to undertake remediation efforts, which will take not only time but also significant resources, depending on the extent of the damage.

For many businesses, the negative publicity that comes with violating environmental laws also means losing their competitive edge,, which can take years to rebuild.

Legal Steps To Take If Your Business Is Accused for Environmental Violations

There’s no question that being accused of environmental violations isn’t something that any business should take lightly, seeing that it could result in financial, operational and reputational damage. If you are facing accusations of non-compliance with environmental law, here are some of the steps you should take.

1. Seek Legal Counsel
   As soon as the accusations are formal, you need to speak to an environmental lawyer as soon as possible. Not only will the lawyer help you understand the nature and true seriousness of the allegation, but they will also start working on a plan to mitigate the outcome. If the case goes to trial, the environmental defense lawyer will defend you.
2. Conduct An Internal Assessment
   Your environmental lawyer may suggest conducting an internal environmental assessment to understand the severity of the allegation better. The outcome of this assessment may also help your attorney gather evidence that they could present to the regulatory authority to prove innocence.
3. Consider Your Options
   After reviewing the evidence and the allegations, the attorney will help you understand your legal options and how to best proceed. You may be requested to accept responsibility and take corrective measures along with any fines imposed, or the attorney may suggest challenging the allegations if they believe they are not accurate.

If you choose to challenge the allegations and you fail, your environmental protection lawyer can help you appeal.

Kollias Law, Environmental Law Attorney.

Are you facing environmental law non-compliance allegations? Receiving the strongly worded notice is usually enough to freeze most business owners in their tracks as they ponder the next move. Working with a law firm that understands environmental law in Wilmington, DE, can help you understand your position and the best legal approach.

At Kollias Law, we have been the dependable and reliable environmental lawyers near me for businesses, helping them understand their environmental obligations, how to avoid strikes, and how to come back from environmental law non-compliance allegations and avoid future problems.

Whether you’re looking for advice, trying to understand your obligations, or trying to fight regulatory imposed fines and penalties, we are here for you. You can reach us at (302) 444-8140 to speak to a member of our team.