7/15/26
"Absolutely amazing!"
️️️️️
Made things so easy for me to understand and guided me step by step. Especially Karim.
Jennifer A.
Practice Areas > Environmental Law
California Environmental Law Violations Come in Many Forms
Environmental law cases involve complex issues and require an experienced environmental lawyer who knows how local, regional and federal environmental regulations apply.
California leads the way in enforcing laws to prevent harmful exposure to pollutants, toxins and greenhouse gases. We litigate cases for both individuals and groups doing their best to protect natural resources and communities. If you have questions about environmental violations, we are here to help. We support our clients and fight to get results that make a difference.
Environmental law encompasses the following damages and exposures:
Air Pollution
You have a right to breathe clean air and to know that your and your children’s futures are not in jeopardy due to illness from exposure to air pollutants or the harmful impacts of climate change. The federal Clean Air Act and the state’s Mulford-Carrell and Global Warming Solutions Acts are designed to protect citizens and the environment from the detrimental effects of air pollution and climate change.
Unfortunately, many polluting industries are concentrated where residents with limited resources live. We work with clients pursuing environmental justice cases against those businesses and industries that take advantage of disadvantaged communities and individuals to engage in harmful discharge practices that pose a danger to health and well-being.
Carcinogen Pollution
Some cancer-causing carcinogen exposures, such as tobacco smoke and the sun’s rays can be avoided. But other carcinogens are harder to avoid, especially if they are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, or the materials we use to do our jobs.
If you’ve been harmed by any type of carcinogenic pollution or contamination, have had your health or well-being damaged, or have witnessed illegal carcinogen violations, you may have a legal claim. If you would like to speak with a reputable environmental lawyer to discuss your legal options, please reach out to us to find out more about environmental laws and your rights.
Forever Chemicals
“Forever chemicals” is a colloquial term often used to refer to a group of synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals are called “forever chemicals” because they are extremely persistent in the environment and do not break down easily, leading to long-lasting contamination.
Forever chemicals have been used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products for decades due to their unique properties, such as water and grease resistance, making them useful in applications like non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, firefighting foams, and more.
Hazardous Waste Pollution
Oil, chemicals and industrial waste pose significant risks to environmental and human health. When companies and individuals improperly handle, transport or dispose of these materials, it often results in soil, freshwater, ocean and air contamination, leading to loss of plant and animal life, natural resources and human health hazards. Matern Law Group is committed to fighting those practicing unsafe hazardous materials handling and dumping to hold them responsible for the damages they cause.
Matern Law Group is the firm you need to represent your environmental protection or hazards exposure case because we believe right matters. Contact us and tell us about the issue or incident.
PCB Pollution
PCB pollution refers to the contamination of the environment, particularly air, water, and soil, by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are a group of synthetic organic chemicals that were widely used in various industrial and commercial applications from the 1930s to the late 1970s.
They were primarily used as insulating fluids in electrical equipment, such as transformers and capacitors, as well as in hydraulic systems, lubricants, and various other industrial applications.
Pesticide Pollution
California urban and agricultural storm water and irrigation run-off can carry pesticides into surface waters, which results in toxic pulses of pesticides – a direct violation of the Clean Water Act.
These toxic pesticides create lethal conditions for the small aquatic organisms that fish eat as well as for human drinking water.
PFAS Pollution
“PFAS” stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS include a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in many different products since the 1950s.
They can frequently be found in things like food packaging, firefighting foam, cookware, and even clothing. Over time, these chemicals can also find their way into the soil, water, and air.
Solid Waste Pollution
Solid wastes are categorized as municipal waste, industrial waste, and hazardous wastes. Solid waste can pollute air, water and soil, and leave various environmental impacts, and cause health hazard, due to improper handling and transportation.
Solid waste disposal is done most commonly through a sanitary landfill or through incineration.
Toxic Waste Pollution
A hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. Hazardous waste is generated from many sources, ranging from industrial manufacturing process wastes to batteries and may come in many forms, including liquids, solids gases, and sludges.
Toxic waste products are divided into three general categories: chemical wastes, radioactive wastes, and medical wastes.
Water Pollution
California’s surface and groundwater sources are essential to the health and survival of the state’s ecosystems and citizens. Water pollution and contamination sources include agricultural runoff, industrial waste dumping and disposal, road runoff, groundwater injections, and pumping, underground waste storage leaching, and chemical and oil spills.
Contamination can lead to hazardous environmental conditions for plant and animal survival. When people drink water with unsafe levels of toxins such as arsenic, benzene, chromium and cadmium, it can have serious health implications.
