In: Economics
Tom is an avid environmentalist who wishes to obtain information about the way the Environmental Protection Agency operates. Specifically, he would like to request that the EPA create a report analyzing the effects of "Roundup" weed killer on the ozone layer. Since the EPA has never conducted this research before, Tom's request is rejected. Has Tom's tights been violated? How so?
Tom is an Avid environmentalist, who wants to know about the working of the Environment protection agency (EPA) and wishes to obtain the report on the effects of "Roundup" weed killer on the ozone layer.
But EPA rejected his request as they never conducted such research earlier.
In this case, Tom's rights have been violated.
As firstly, The duty of EPA is to regulate the manufacturing, processing, distribution, and conducting research for use of chemicals and other pollutants.
But in this case, they never conducted any research regarding the effects of this weed killer 'roundup' which can be harmful in many ways for both, sometimes to the crops and the environment, and also for the humans.
So, firstly they didn't perform their duty.
And secondly, according to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) which was enacted in 1986 to establish requirements for government regarding emergency planning and "community right-to-know" reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. In which the community's right to know provision helps to increase the public and the community's knowledge regarding the use of chemicals, its effects on the environment. And also the
'Information on Toxic Substances and Releases' under which it provides the consumers about the releases of toxic chemicals in the environment.
Which means everyone has the right to know about the environment and working of various agencies like EPA.
But here, Tom's request regarding the wish for obtaining the report of how EPA works has been rejected. So, his right has been violated.