Environmental law is a complex group of laws and regulations which operate to regulate the interaction of human life to the natural environment. Environmental laws consist of treaties, conventions, statutes and regulations. Often environmental law falls under common law. The purpose of environmental law is to protect and preserve the environment. There are two main subjects of environmental laws, control of pollution, and the conservation and management of land.
Both sections of environmental law protect land, air, water, and soil. When a person acts negligently to the environment and breaks an environmental law, punishments are given. Punishments can vary but may include: fines, community service, and even jail time. Environmental laws which are commonly broke include: littering, dumping hazardous materials into bodies of water, starting forest fires, and polluting watershed property.
