환경오염으로 인한 피해자의 손해배상청구와 관련하여서 많은 법률이 관련되지만, 핵심적인 근거법률은 과실책임과 관련하여서는 민법 제750조이고, 무과실책임과 관련하여서는 환경정책기본법 제31조에 의한 사업장의 무과실책임의 규정이라고 할 것이다. 그런데 2009년 5월에 환경정책기본법의 개정안이 정부안으로 제출되면서 동법 제31조의 개정안도 함께 제출되었다. 환경정책기본법 제31조에 의한 사업장의 무과실책임의 실체법적 효력은 판례와 통설에 의하면 인정된다고 할 수 있다. 이에 따라 사업장의 환경오염으로 인한 피해에 대해서는 환경정책기본법 제31조에 의하여 가해행위와 손해발생간의 인과관계만 인정되면 손해배상이 될 수 있다. 하지만 이로써 본 논문에서 고찰한 바와 같은 많은 문제점이 발생하게 된다. 또한 2009년 5월에 정부안으로 국회에 제출된 「환경정책기본법 개정법률안」제44조와 같이 현행규정을 개정한다 하더라도, 현행규정의 문제점에 또 다른 문제점을 추가하는 것이 된다. 그러므로 환경정책기본법 제31조의 개정방향은 환경정책기본법 제5절의 체계적ㆍ해석상 관점에서, 환경정책기본법 제31조에서 인정하는 사업장의 무과실책임의 합리적인 책임범위의 조정이라는 관점에서, 피해자 보호의 관점에서, 가칭 환경책임법이 제정되어어야 할 것으로 생각된다. 이러한 환경책임법의 제정은 피해자에 대한 피해의 보상을 주목적으로 하나, 또한 이것을 넘어서 침해의 예방목적도 가지고 있다고 할 것이다. 무과실책임에 의한 환경책임법을 통한 환경책임의 강화는 환경의 보호를 규제법에만 맡기지 않고, 시장경제적인 장치를 삽입하는 일반적인 경향에 상응하는 것이다. 즉 엄격한 환경책임으로 환경위험적인 생산과정에 대한 부담은 환경친화적인 생산과 생산과정을 개발하도록 유도하는 것이 된다.

There are many legislations regarding claim for damages due to environmental pollution; but, the core legislations are Article 750 of Civil Law for liability and Article 31 of Environmental Policy Act (EPA) for regulation on strict liability at workplace. In May of 2009, as the government bill for revisions to EPA was submitted, it also included revision for Article 31. Article 31 of EPA recognizes the substantial effect of strict liability at workplace. Therefore, damages caused by pollution at workplace are eligible for compensation as long as the causal relationship between the harmful act and the causal damage are proven. However, as mentioned before, this causes many problems. Even if the existing regulations are amended as Article 44 of the “Revision for EPA,” submitted as government bill in May of 2009, it only adds problem on top of another one. From the perspective of systematic interpretation of Clause 5 of EPA, from the perspective of reasonable change within responsible range for strict liability at workplace as recognized in Article 31 of EPA, from the perspective of protection of the victims, the direction of amendment for Article 31 of EPA should lead to establishment of what can be called “Environmental Responsibility Act.” Enactment of this Environmental Responsibility Act mainly focuses on compensation to victims for damage, but also has preventive function for infringement. Strengthening environmental responsibility through strict liability in Environmental Responsibility Act not only entrusts environmental protection to regulations, but also corresponds with the general tendency that inserts the market economic measures. That is, through rigorous environmental responsibility, the burden in environment-hazardous production process eventually will lead to development of environmental-friendly production and process.

There are many legislations regarding claim for damages due to environmental pollution; but, the core legislations are Article 750 of Civil Law for liability and Article 31 of Environmental Policy Act (EPA) for regulation on strict liability at workplace. In May of 2009, as the government bill for revisions to EPA was submitted, it also included revision for Article 31. Article 31 of EPA recognizes the substantial effect of strict liability at workplace. Therefore, damages caused by pollution at workplace are eligible for compensation as long as the causal relationship between the harmful act and the causal damage are proven. However, as mentioned before, this causes many problems. Even if the existing regulations are amended as Article 44 of the “Revision for EPA,” submitted as government bill in May of 2009, it only adds problem on top of another one. From the perspective of systematic interpretation of Clause 5 of EPA, from the perspective of reasonable change within responsible range for strict liability at workplace as recognized in Article 31 of EPA, from the perspective of protection of the victims, the direction of amendment for Article 31 of EPA should lead to establishment of what can be called “Environmental Responsibility Act.” Enactment of this Environmental Responsibility Act mainly focuses on compensation to victims for damage, but also has preventive function for infringement. Strengthening environmental responsibility through strict liability in Environmental Responsibility Act not only entrusts environmental protection to regulations, but also corresponds with the general tendency that inserts the market economic measures. That is, through rigorous environmental responsibility, the burden in environment-hazardous production process eventually will lead to development of environmental-friendly production and process.

Environmental Pollution, Environmental Responsibility, Environmental Policy Act, Strict Liability, Environmental Responsibility Act