Frequently Asked Questions about Environmental Law
Who is obliged to remediate?
The core European principle is "the polluter pays" (Art. 242 Leg. Decree 152/06). However, if the responsible party cannot be identified, the innocent owner of the site is still required to implement preventive and emergency safety measures, and is burdened by a real charge on the land.
What is the difference between CSC and CSR?
The CSC (Contamination Threshold Concentrations) are tabular limits preset by law: exceeding them triggers the obligation to notify and investigate. The CSR (Risk Threshold Concentrations) are the true tolerable limits, calculated specifically for your site through Risk Analysis. The actual obligation to remediate is triggered only if the CSRs are exceeded.
What does Leg. Decree 231/01 entail for companies?
If an environmental crime (such as illegal discharge or unauthorized waste management) is committed by an employee to the advantage of the company, Leg. Decree 231/01 allows the company itself to be directly targeted. Consequences include high financial penalties, disqualification from conducting business, and confiscation of profits, unless the company proves it has adopted and effectively implemented an Organizational Model suitable for preventing such crimes.