EPA Has Record-Setting Year

DAILY BRIEFING

EPA Has Record-Setting Year

The Environmental Protection Agency referred the largest number of civil and criminal enforcement cases in its history to the Justice Department and assessed the largest one-year total of civil and criminal penalties, agency officials said Tuesday.

EPA referred 704 cases to the Justice Department and imposed $264.4 million in penalties in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. Criminal claims made up 278 of those cases and $169.3 million in fines.

"The record level of environmental enforcement by the Clinton administration is essential to ensure the protection of the health of the American people," said Steve Herman, EPA's assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. "At the same time, we also have made an unprecedented effort to provide assistance to industry and to encourage self-disclosure of violations to further ensure compliance with health and environmental standards."

As a result of EPA enforcement, polluters spent a total of $1.98 billion to correct violations and take additional steps to protect the environment.