WM settled with the EPA after it sued for gross violations of environmental regulations during new store construction:
The complaint filed against Wal-Mart alleged violations at 24 sites in nine states. It included charges it failed to get a permit before beginning construction and did not develop a plan to control polluted runoff water.The problem was not large or pervasive or universal at their construction sites--WM builds over 200 stores a year. But it was the second time in 3 years it had been sued by the EPA. (EPA determined WM's compliance was not full the first time around). Regardless of your view of the benefits and costs of such regulation, WM must follow these laws, and must be held accountable when it doesn't.
Still, I don't know which government will get to spend most of the $3.1 million collected as a civil penalty.
Today's settlement requires Wal-Mart to comply with storm water permitting requirements and ensures rigorous oversight of its 150 contractors at its construction sites across the country through an aggressive compliance program. Wal-Mart will be required to use qualified personnel to oversee construction, conduct training and frequent inspections, report to EPA and take quick corrective actions.In addition to paying a $3.1 million civil penalty to the United States, Tennessee and Utah, Wal-Mart has agreed to spend $250,000 on an environmental project that will help protect sensitive wetlands or waterways in one of the affected states, which are California, Colorado, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Full details of the settlement can be found here.
Posted by Kevin on May, 12 2004 at 03:45 PM
