A new trend in environmental law is changing the way businesses operate along the coast of Florida. This trend means that citizens can now sue businesses for harming the environment, and it will have a big impact on how business is done in the area. Before, environmental regulation was mainly handled through lawsuits, but now there are many detailed laws and regulations in place. These laws have given environmental regulators more power over businesses, and this will have a big impact on coastal businesses in Florida. If there’s a law about protecting the environment, anyone who cares about the environment can make sure the law is being followed. And if the government is making a decision that affects someone in a bad way, that person can challenge the decision. Plus, if you want to do a project near the coast, you’ll probably need the government’s approval, and they’ll ask the public for their opinion. This passage explains how Florida’s environmental laws have changed to give federal officials a lot of control over how the state’s coastal resources are used. It also talks about the importance of protecting the ocean from pollution and overdevelopment. In the future, Florida’s laws might become even more complex as more people move there. Other states are also making laws to protect their coastal areas. These changes could affect how land and resources are used in the future. Coastal states are making their own laws to protect their beaches and oceans because they don’t think the national laws are good enough. When the Clean Water Act was made in 1972, it was mainly to stop pollution in rivers like the Cuyahoga in Cleveland, which had a big fire on its surface. The law said you can’t pollute at all, unless the government says it’s okay. Congress thought rivers were the biggest problem and industry caused the most pollution. So basically, in the past, ships were exempt from a lot of environmental regulations, but now states like Florida are starting to make their own laws to protect the environment from things like oil spills, pollution from cruise ships, and invasive species. This means that businesses like cruise lines and shipping companies might have to follow these new laws and get permits to operate. Also, if a business wants to do a project that might affect the environment, they need to get a permit from the Corps of Engineers, and the public can challenge these permits under environmental laws. Recently, the Supreme Court made it easier for people to sue businesses for environmental reasons, even if they don’t really live in or visit the area being affected. So, businesses need to be aware of these new laws and potential legal challenges. This is about the challenges businesses may face when trying to build near the coast in Florida. Even though environmental laws are important, they can cause delays and problems for businesses. As more people move to Florida, there will be a lot of pressure to protect the environment while also allowing for development near the water. In the future, businesses must focus on meeting public expectations for protecting the environment, not just following the law. This means understanding how their actions affect the coastal area and showing how they benefit the public. Failing to do this could lead to expensive challenges based on environmental concerns. The public has a lot of power when it comes to environmental laws, and this power is only going to grow as more laws are passed. Businesses need to understand and respect this power, because their success depends on the public not using it against them. The most successful businesses will be those that can navigate within this new reality. It’s important for everyone to recognize the impact of their actions on the environment, especially in Florida where the population is growing rapidly. The public has the right to take legal action if they believe environmental laws are being violated, and businesses need to be aware of this.
Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/environmental-regulation-in-floridas-coastal-zone-you-aint-seen-nothin-yet/
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