Situations involving the impact of man-made (technogenic) sources on environmental elements may arise during business operations, production activities, and the operation of industrial facilities. Such impacts may stem from disruptions in technological processes, the emission of pollutants, energy release, the generation or accumulation of industrial waste, and other circumstances. Experts in the field of engineering-environmental analysis may be engaged to establish the circumstances, organizational and technical causes, and consequences of such impacts.

10.19. "Examination of the circumstances, organizational and technical causes, and consequences of the impact of man-made sources on environmental elements"

The objects of engineering-environmental expert analysis include material and materialized sources of information containing factual data regarding the circumstances of an environmental emergency. These include physical evidence, fragments of the incident site, equipment, utility systems, and production facilities ensuring the environmentally safe operation of the enterprise, as well as any other circumstances of the event documented (described, depicted in diagrams, photographs, plans, etc.) in the case materials.

The primary tasks of engineering-environmental expert analysis include:

• determining the circumstances associated with the occurrence of an environmental emergency; • determining the technical and organizational causes of disruptions to the production process, where such disruptions contributed to the release of pollutants and energy, the emission of other harmful substances, and the accumulation of industrial waste;
• determining whether the actions (or omissions) of individuals involved in the environmental emergency complied with regulatory requirements regarding environmental safety, environmental protection, and the use of natural resources;
• establishing the causal link between the actions or omissions of specifically authorized officials (responsible for environmental protection, natural resource use, and environmental safety) and the resulting consequences.

Indicative list of questions to be addressed:

• What were the causes of the environmental emergency, and what circumstances gave rise to them?
• Which environmental protection regulations were violated in the case of the environmental emergency under investigation?
• Whose actions failed to comply with environmental protection regulations?
• Whose actions (or omissions) are technically causally linked to the occurrence of the event under investigation?

*This list is not exhaustive. Other questions falling within the scope of the expert examination may also be submitted for the engineering-environmental expert analysis.

Our specialists are certified by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and hold the relevant certificates of qualification as forensic experts in the specialty 10.19: "Investigation of the circumstances and organizational-technical causes and consequences of the impact of man-made sources on environmental objects."