What kind of actions can be brought by an individual for environmental harm?
A. Under several federal environmental statutes, including the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act (CERCLA), among others, an individual may bring a “citizen suit” to force the cleanup of environmental contamination. These lawsuits are brought on behalf of the government and are limited to enforcement of either state or federal environmental laws or regulations. For example, a citizen suit may be brought under the Clean Water Act to stop a polluter from illegally discharging hazardous waste into a stream. If the government has already taken action against the polluter, a citizen suit is generally not allowed to proceed. Private individuals may also file lawsuits to obtain compensation for damage caused by environmental contamination to their property or for personal injury under the state common law. For example, an individual whose private property has been aff
