| Criminal Liability Associated with Violating the Clean Water Act |
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| The Clean Water Act governs the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. Navigable waters have been defined as any waters in which one is able to navigate through, including streams or creeks that in turn feed navigable bodies of water. The Act requires any individual or corporation seeking to discharge pollutants to obtain a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The permit establishes the maximum amount of particular pollutants that may be discharged from facilities such as industrial and sewage treatment plants over a set period of time. The place or facility where the pollutants are discharged from is known as the point source. More... |
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| Federal Criminal Offenses charged in conjunction with Violations of Environmental Statutes |
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| An individual or corporation may be charged with violating environmental statutes along with violating other federal statutes. More... |
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| An overview of the PATRIOT Act |
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| The PATRIOT Act officially the United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act was quickly developed and passed after the terroristic attack on September 11, 2001. The PATRIOT Act gives state, federal, and international intelligence agencies the power to conduct surveillance without first going into court and obtaining a warrant. More... |
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| A DEFENDANT'S RIGHT TO A PUBLIC TRIAL |
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| A defendant is guaranteed the right to a public trial under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The right to a public trial is also an element of the defendant's due process rights, which rights are guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. In addition, states have enacted provisions in their constitutions that guarantee a defendant's right to a public trial. The public also has a right to attend criminal trials under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. More... |
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| EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF |
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| A defendant has an adequate remedy at law for a lower court's decision when he or she has a right to appeal the lower court's decision. When the defendant cannot appeal the lower court's decision, he or she may be entitled to extraordinary relief. Extraordinary relief is a method by which the defendant seeks to have an appellate court examine the lower court's actions and order the lower court to perform or to refrain from performing a certain act. More... |
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