환경오염피해구제법 도입에 따른 배상책임성립과 배상범위에 대한 고찰

Abstract

Large scale accidents of environmental pollution in 1989, 1997, and 2000 brought us social awareness, so Assembly tried to legislate an Act that breaks up the risk of environmental pollution accidents and distributes a reasonable liability and makes a prompt relief for damage but failed for various reasons. After that time many scholars and non governmental organizations steadily brought up the legislation of new Environmental Liability Act. After all, this issue was included the election pledge of the 18th presidential election. The present Government decided this issue as a major Government Projects and advanced the acception of an opinion and public hearing. But the new Act on Liability For Environmental Damage and Relief Thereof was made by the form of legislation by assembly members. The purpose of this Act is to contribute to providing the victims of environmental damage with prompt and unbiased relief by establishing an effective system of relief from damage, such as clarifying liability for damage caused by environmental pollution, easing burden of proof for victims, etc. On the Environmental Liability, Business Owners’ No-Fault Liability for Environmental Damage and the Presumption of Causal Relationship are prescribed. The Liability Cap for Compensation that limits within a maximum of 200 billion won and the Obligation to Subscribe to Environmental Liability Insurance on the Environmental Damage. Where a victim fails to fully or partially receive compensation for environmental damage for any of the following grounds, the Minister of Environment may pay money for relief from environmental damage to the victim or his/her bereaved family members. The following grounds are 1. Where a person who causes environmental damage is unknown, his/her existence is not obvious or he/she is insolvent; 2. Where the relief money exceeds the liability cap for compensation under Article 7. After the enforcement of the Environmental Liability Act which is similar to ours in Germany, the lawsuits were reduced at a considerable width. The lawsuits between the business owners and victim were reduced but the mediation or adjustment between victim and the Environmental Liability Insurance were activated. I expect that Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission will undertake more works on the new Environmental Liability Systems.