Title
The Precautionary Principle, Pollution Prevention and Environmental Restoration
Document Type
Lecture
Publication Date
2-7-2018
Abstract
The essence of the Precautionary Principle is that government should act before harm to human health and environment occurs from the releases of toxic substances. Indications that there will probably be environmental harm, rather than absolute proof of harm, should trigger protective action. If there is a reasonable suspicion that harm to human health and the environment could occur from the release of a toxic substance, government should step in and fix the problem before its hurts people and the environment. The essence of the Principle of Pollution Prevention is that it is better to prevent environmental pollution before it occurs, rather than try to remediate or restore after the fact. Pollution Prevention encompasses the old adage that an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” My presentation will discuss these two concepts in relation to the ongoing remediation and restoration activities in Butte and surrounding areas.
Recommended Citation
Ray, Ph.D., John W., "The Precautionary Principle, Pollution Prevention and Environmental Restoration" (2018). Guest Lectures. 60.
https://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/campus_lectures/60
Comments
Dr. John Ray is a professor in the Liberal Studies Department at Montana Tech. Teaches courses in political science and public policy. Published and made conference presentations in the areas of global warming, Superfund, air and water pollution, energy policy and environmental policy with an emphasis on environmental justice. I am currently chairperson of Citizens for Labor and Environmental Justice in Butte and a board member of the Citizens Technical Environmental Committee (CTEC), also in Butte. I served as board member and President of the Montana Environmental Information Center in Helena and on the Board of the Clark Fork Coalition in Missoula. Have also conducted workshops on environmental justice and community involvement for EPA national Community Involvement Conferences in Seattle and Boston. The essence of the Precautionary Principle is that government should act before harm to human health and environment occurs from the releases of toxic substances. Indications that there will probably be environmental harm, rather than absolute proof of harm, should trigger protective action. If there is a reasonable suspicion that harm to human health and the environment could occur from the release of a toxic substance, government should step in and fix the problem before its hurts people and the environment. The essence of the Principle of Pollution Prevention is that it is better to prevent environmental pollution before it occurs, rather than try to remediate or restore after the fact. Pollution Prevention encompasses the old adage that an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” My presentation will discuss these two concepts in relation to the ongoing remediation and restoration activities in Butte and surrounding areas.