从“马萨诸塞州诉环境保护总署”案谈美国公民公益诉讼制度及对我国的启示

From the "Massachusetts v. EPA" Case on Citizen Public Interest Suit System in the USA and Its Enlightenment to China

2007年4月美国联邦最高法院对"马萨诸塞州诉环境保护总署"案的终审判决,体现了公民诉讼制度的立法本意。该案进一步明确了公民诉讼的性质,肯定了地方政府和非政府组织或公民为适格的原告,降低了原告关于损害事实的证明负担,淡化了因果关系要求。借鉴美国制度,建立公益诉讼制度,赋予相关机关、社会团体和公民提起环保公益诉讼的权利,是我国有效治理污染的唯一途径。

April 2007, the United States Supreme Court makes final judgment on the ＂Massachusetts v. EPA＂ case. The judgment reflects the true legislative intent of citizen suits system. The case further clarified the nature of citizen suits proceedings, affirmed the local government and non- governmental organizations or citizens of the plaintiff for the fitness, reduced the burden to prove the damage facts to the plaintiffs, and diluted the requirements of a causal relationship. From the United States system, the only way to efficiently deal with pollution in China is to establish public interest suits system, and give the relevant organs, social organizations and citizens the right to sue environmental public interest suits.