November 8, 2021
Opinion Story
by Tara Malhotra
25,000 barrels dumped illegally. 350 to 700 tons of toxic waste. Paralysis and death brought upon helpless animals. Cancer and genetic damage in humans. What happened to the perpetrators of this horrendous crime? They paid a fine and carried on with their business.
This punishment did not fit the scope of the environmental crime. Regardless of the severity, a company’s punishment is financial and not criminal; this does not adequately penalize violators. I believe the penalties for these types of crimes are not severe enough.
A recent case has shed light on this. Uncovered shipping logs dating back to World War II revealed illegal dumping of thousands of barrels laced with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a synthetic pesticide. They were boated to Catalina Island, thrown into the ocean for disposal, and sometimes punctured to help them sink.
This process continued until the 1980s, when regulators realized that a DDT plant called the Montrose Chemical Corporation was not discarding their toxic waste properly.
These harmful pesticides take a toll on marine life. Cibrina Hoffman, a Brentwood School physics teacher who leads the Endangered Species Club, states companies should follow environmental regulations to preserve animal life.
“I think that corporations should have stricter policies in place to protect animals. Innocent animals shouldn’t have to suffer because of humans’ inaction,” Hoffman said.
This illegal activity came to light when David Valentine, a marine scientist, identified the barrels in 2011. Valentine hoped his discoveries would raise awareness about environmental crimes. However, neither the public nor officials have acted.
“Big corporations have shareholders, not an environmental conscience. Environmental regulations don't need to be burdensome, but they do need… to keep corporations from circumventing the intent,” Valentine said.
Currently, environmental regulation consequences are strictly financial. The lack of criminal prosecution fails to deter corporate decision makers from committing environmental crimes. If a company is profitable, they may prefer to pay a penalty as opposed to clean up.
Zachary Chien, the Brentwood School Entrepreneurship Coordinator for the Belldegrun Center for Innovative Leadership, shared that financial profits often take priority over ethical action.
“Generally speaking, corporations often stay the same, skirt around the laws, or buy laws through lobbyists... we might have to find a way to force regulations on companies, otherwise they won't willingly change on their own,” Chien said.
Comparatively, individuals face up to six months of jail time for violating environmental regulations. The executives at corporations should face similar consequences, considering they can do much more damage.
Sadly, the harm to our health and our planet often takes years to become apparent. We need to strengthen our environmental policies right now—our lives are at stake.
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