ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the development history of China's environmental complaint letters and visits system. It analyzes the necessity of environmental complaint letters and visits in environmental disputes resolution. This is not only because that the environmental complaint letters and visits fit in China's traditional culture and current situation. More importantly, it is the most effective and low-cost way in environmental disputes resolution. But with the reform of judicial system in China, especially the environmental protection departments are not willing to involve themselves in environmental disputes resolution; the environment legislation tends to abolish the environmental disputes resolution responsibility for Environmental Protection Department. The chapter examines the defects of environmental complaint letters and visits system, and suggests two major ways to improve the environmental complaint letters and visits system. The first is to set up specialized agency for environmental dispute settlement. The second is to entitle the environmental disputes settlement agency power and means to settle disputes.
