How to avoid or Minimize criminal penalties?
How to Avoid or Minimize Criminal Penalties in EHS Compliance
Understanding the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal sentencing guidelines and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards can provide a valuable roadmap for reducing exposure to environmental liability. These guidelines, which include tools like EHS legal registries, are crucial for businesses looking to limit their environmental compliance risks. As one prosecutor pointed out, just as many cars exceed the speed limit, businesses often unknowingly violate environmental, health, and safety (EHS) laws daily.
As a steward of your company’s license to operate, managing environmental compliance risk with limited time and resources is a significant challenge. The key to avoiding criminal penalties lies in making strategic investments that align with the “good faith” risk management strategies outlined by the DOJ and ISO. One effective approach is to assess the health of your company’s environmental programs and identify the most vulnerable areas. By prioritizing and strengthening these environmental programs, companies can demonstrate good faith efforts to comply with DOJ sentencing guidelines and minimize the risk of penalties.
Do You Know the Health of Your EHS Programs?
If you're unsure about the status of your company's EHS compliance programs, I can help. I’m offering a complimentary one-hour EHS compliance strategy session to help you identify your path to compliance and avoid penalties. During our call, we will:
Conduct a high-level review of your potential EHS risk
Identify the highest compliance risks facing your company
Focus on at least one strategic priority to close compliance gaps
As a thank you for scheduling this session, you’ll receive a complimentary copy of my new book, California Environmental Law and Policy: A Practical Guide. This book is the only comprehensive resource that covers California environmental, land use, and natural resources law in a concise, user-friendly format.
To schedule your EHS compliance strategy session, please email me at gary@beyondcompliance.net.
Best regards,
Gary Lucks JD CPEA