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2016 EPA Enforcement by the Numbers

Posted on 12/20/2016 by Roger Marks

This week, US EPA released its 2016 Annual Enforcement Results. If you subscribe to Lion News, you may already be aware of some of the enforcement actions the Agency took this year through the weekly EPA Enforcement Roundup.

Below are some highlights of EPA’s enforcement work in fiscal year 2016, by the numbers:

13,500 
The number of inspections EPA performed in FY 2016

$13,700,000,000
The total value of injunctive relief actions taken in response to EPA enforcement in FY 2016

1,372 
The number of Final Administrative Civil Penalty Orders EPA handed down in FY 2016

$6,000,000,000 
The total amount of administrative, civil, and criminal fines EPA handed down in FY 2016

184 
The number of criminal violators sentenced for environmental crimes

93 years 
The combined jail time for criminal violations of environmental law

$1,000,000,000 
The amount committed to clean up Superfund sites around the country.

See EPA's full 2016 Annual Enforcement Summary here. 
 

Which Laws Does US EPA Enforce?


US EPA enforcement environmental laws and implementing regulations under major programs like:
 

Clean Air Act 

Businesses subject to Clean Air Act regulations must monitor and control emissions of hazardous air pollutants and comply with permit requirements to build new facilities or modify existing ones. Learn more about the Clean Air Act in the Clean Air Act Online Course.
 

Clean Water Act

Facilities that discharge pollutants to the water must comply with permit requirements and other standards in order to release oil and other potentially hazardous substances to the water.
 

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, facilities must protect sources of ground water and follow specific requirements for providing water to employees.

New for 2017! Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act Online Course.
 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

RCRA is a cradle-to-grave management system to ensure the safe storage and disposal of hazardous waste. Have questions about the RCRA regulations and how they impact your site? Watch the video at Lion.com/RCRA-Training to learn more.
 

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 

TSCA lays out chemical management, inventory reporting, and recordkeeping standards for chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors. The TSCA regulations are in a state of overhaul currently, following the passage of the landmark Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. 
 

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

The main objective of the FIFRA regulations is to protect workers and the public from hazards associated with the application of and exposure to pesticides.
 

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

Main objective: Keeping local first responders aware of the dangers posed by hazardous chemicals in their communities so they can respond accordingly in the event of an emergency incident or release.  
 

Comprehensive Environmental Remediation, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 

Main objective: Often called “Superfund,” CERCLA governs the cleanup and recovery of costs for cleanup of sites where hazardous substances are abandoned or disposed of.
Coming Soon: EPCRA/CERCLA Regulations Online Course.
 

Complete EPA Regulations Workshops – 2017 Schedule Now Available!


Managing site compliance with the many complex EPA programs that affect your business—from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to TSCA, FIFRA, EPCRA, and more—is a major challenge. If you’re new to the field, or need an update on changing EPA rules, the Complete Environmental Regulations Workshop will help you identify the requirements that apply to your facility and make decisions that put your team in a position to succeed.

Planning for next year? The 2017 schedule is available now and includes a workshop in our new Environmental Training Center in Sparta, NJ! Register to receive a full year of Lion Membership for complete on-the-job compliance support. 

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