Skip to main content
LIRA@BC Law

Abstract

Following the 2008 financial crisis, regulators faced the task of returning the country to financial stability and protecting consumers. Given the challenges involved, Congress empowered the SEC and the CFTC, through the Dodd-Frank Act, to encourage whistleblowers to come forward through programs that provide significant financial rewards and protection. These programs are part of the evolving field of whistleblower law that has been tremendously successful at uncovering wrongdoing while rewarding whistleblowers. Given the success of these programs and recognition by Congress that they can be useful tools to combat threats to the government, Congress should consider whether a similar system would be beneficial in the environmental arena. Threats to the environment may pose a bigger, more tangible danger to the United States than threats to the economy. This Note argues that current environmental whistle-blower laws are too uncertain and lack adequate financial incentives and protections to attract meaningful participation. It advocates for a uniform whistleblower program established under the EPA, similar to those established by the Dodd-Frank Act under the SEC and the CFTC.

Files

File nameDate UploadedVisibilityFile size
6.pdf
8 Sep 2022
Public
564 kB

Metrics

Metadata

  • Subject
    • Administrative Law

    • Environmental Law

  • Journal title
    • Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review

  • Volume
    • 42

  • Issue
    • 1

  • Pagination
    • 195

  • Date submitted

    8 September 2022