January 13, 2012
Exponent is pleased to present the latest edition of Environmental Perspectives, with the feature article, "Environmental Liability of U.S. Clients from Operations and Legacy Sites Outside the United States: Case Studies."
What do unpredictable regulations, an agitated public, and complex political agendas have in common? Answer—They all pose significant challenges to multi-national corporations that hold legacy assets or conduct operations around the world. These legacy assets and/or ongoing operations may have been developed historically under different regulatory frameworks among countries, creating complex potential environmental liabilities. Around the world, there has been a notable increase in environmental disputes, some of which have come before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Other cases have been filed specifically in the United States or other countries.
While some cases represent disputes between countries, many have involved damage claims against multi-national corporations. These claims are driven by increases in environmental regulations and directives that are highly variable among countries. Through case studies, we examine the challenges presented by international environmental liability and offer strategies for approaching these often unpredictable cases.
Download the latest issue of Environmental Perspectives (PDF) to read more about this topic.