What has the EPA accomplished?
From regulating auto emissions to banning the use of DDT; from cleaning up toxic waste to protecting the ozone layer; from increasing recycling to revitalizing inner-city brownfields, EPA’s achievements have resulted in cleaner air, purer water, and better protected land.
What laws does the EPA enforce?
EPA has explicit authority to enforce the law and assess fines at federal facilities violating environmental statutes including the: Clean Air Act. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
What does the EPA regulate?
The Environmental Protection Agency is a United States federal government agency whose mission is to protect human and environmental health. The EPA regulates the manufacturing, processing, distribution, and use of chemicals and other pollutants.
What does the EPA investigate?
Investigators conduct the EPA OIG’s criminal investigations, which look for violations of the law. Investigations may involve such areas as financial fraud, employee misconduct, intrusion into EPA systems and computers, impersonating EPA officials and theft of EPA property and funds.
Who enforces the EPA?
U.S. EPA Region 9 oversees federal environmental enforcement in the Pacific Southwest, including California, on issues relating to federal air, water, waste, pesticides, and toxics statutes.
Can you report anonymously to EPA?
You may also submit a complaint anonymously. However, if you do not provide your email address, you will not receive updates on the status of your complaint. Additionally, anonymous complaints may be more difficult to investigate because agency staff will not have a contact to answer questions about the report.
Does EPA have law enforcement?
EPA’s criminal enforcement program focuses on criminal conduct that threatens people’s health and the environment. It was established in 1982 and granted full law enforcement authority by congress in 1988.
What does the director of the EPA do?
Incumbent. Michael S. Regan The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is the head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and is thus responsible for enforcing the nation’s Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, as well as numerous other environmental statutes.
Can the EPA prosecute?
The Justice Department filed 75 EPA prosecutions in fiscal year 2019. That included 170 possible criminal cases opened by the EPA, up from 129 last year.
How do I report something to the EPA?
If you are seeing an environmental event that may lead to an immediate threat to human health or the environment, call 911, then report it to the National Response Center at: 1-800-424-8802. Choose “No” to continue reporting a possible violation that is not an emergency.
How often does the EPA check for compliance?
every five years
How much is an EPA fine?
Penalty: Negligent Violations: 1 year and/or $2,500 – 25,000 per day; Subsequent convictions 2 years and/or $50,000 per day.
Is there a reward for reporting EPA violations?
While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal and state agencies can impose fines or seek damages from polluters and others under a number of different laws, the environmental laws do not generally provide financial rewards for whistleblowers who report violations.
How many steps are in the EPA compliance process?
five
What are environmental violations?
An environmental violation occurs when an activity or an existing condition does not comply with an environmental law or regulation.
What is the last step in the EPA process for compliance?
Every regulation is developed under slightly different circumstances, but this is the general process:
- Step 1: EPA Proposes a Regulation.
- Step 2: EPA Considers Your Comments and Issues a Final Rule.
- Step 3: The Regulation is Codified in the Code of Federal Regulations.
What does an EPA inspector do?
The main purpose of EPA conducting compliance inspections is to determine compliance with environmental regulations and enforcement agreements.
What are the penalties for violating the Clean Air Act?
The Amendments authorize EPA to impose administrative penalties of up to $25,000 per day for each violation of any requirement, permit, rule or order, up to a maximum of $200,000, provided that the penalty is assessed not more than one year after the violation is alleged to have occurred.
What companies has violated the Pollution Prevention Act?
Tuesday’s settlements resolve allegations that Exxon and PDC Energy violated the federal Clean Air Act by releasing harmful pollutants. In the case of PDC, the company has agreed to spend about $18 million to upgrade systems.
How is the Clean Air Act enforced?
EPA inspects stationary sources of air pollution, such as power plants and factories, to evaluate compliance with applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act. EPA works with U.S. Customs to inspect imports of recreational vehicles, including scooters and motorcycles, from China and other countries.