Search

New Maximum Civil Penalties for Environmental Violations

Posted on 1/8/2025 by Lion Technology Inc.

Today, January 8, 2025, the US EPA increased its maximum monetary civil penalties for violations of air, water, chemical, and hazardous waste programs. The Agency is required to raise civil penalty maximums by law to keep up with inflation.

Environmental violations do not always result in max penalties. However, these new maximums do guide EPA's enforcement decisions throughout the year.

US EPA's new civil penalties maximums will apply to all civil penalties that are assessed on or after January 8, 2025.

Increased EPA Penalties In Effect As of 1/8/2025

Major US EPA Programs Before 1/8/25 On or After 1/8/25
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) $90,702 $93,058
Clean Air Act (CAA)  $121,275 $124,426
Clean Water Act (CWA) $66,712 $68,445
Superfund and Right-to-Know (CERCLA/EPCRA) $69,733 $71,545
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) $69,733 $71,545
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)  $48,512 $49,772
Insecticides, Fungicides, and Rodenticides (FIFRA) $24,255 $24,885
See the US EPA Final Rule here. 

Note: The new maximum penalty listed above for a first-time CERCLA violation is $71,545, The new maximum penalty for a subsequent CERCLA violation is $214,637, up from $209,202.

RCRA Civil Penalties Up 2.6% for 2025

For hazardous waste generators, violations can now be penalized up to $93,058. Common hazardous waste violations include failure to provide initial or annual refresher training, incomplete facility training plans, incomplete or non-existent RCRA training records, employees signing the Hazardous Waste Manifest with no DOT hazmat training, and inadequate contingency planning.

The Regulations List Incorrect (and Correct) Penalty Amounts

US EPA recently added language to several sections of regulations in 40 CFR to clarify the price of civil penalties assessed for environmental violations.

The text reads, “The civil monetary penalty amount listed in this section may not reflect recent inflation adjustments EPA is required to make. The current maximum and minimum statutory civil penalty amounts are located in §19.4.”

Why Do Civil Penalties Go Up Every Year?

Annual civil penalty adjustments began in 2015, when the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 amended Federal law related to civil penalties for regulatory violations. Previously, the DOT and the EPA were required by law to increase penalties only every four years.

See also: New Maximum Hazmat Civil Penalties for 2025

2025 Workshops Have Begun!

Lion's compliance training workshops start next week! Sign up for training now or check out Lion's full 2025 training schedule of in-person workshops and live webinars, available now.

Tags: environmental penalties, EPA, EPA Enforcement, EPA News, fines and penalties

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Lion courses always set the bar for content, reference, and practical application. Membership and access to the experts is an added bonus.

John Brown, CSP

Director of Safety & Env Affairs

Best instructor ever! I was going to take my DOT training w/a different provider, but based on this presentation, I will also be doing my DOT training w/Lion!

Donna Moot

Hazardous Waste Professional

I was recently offered an opportunity to take my training through another company, but I politely declined. I only attend Lion Technology workshops.

Stephanie Gilliam

Material Production/Logistics Manager

Excellent. I learned more in two days with Lion than at a 5-day program I took with another provider.

Francisco Gallardo

HES Technician

I attended training from another provider and learned absolutely nothing. Lion is much better. Hands down.

Nicole Eby

Environmental Specialist

I really enjoyed this training. Even after years on both sides of the comprehension coin, I find myself still learning! The quality of the delivery exceeded much of the training I have received in the past.

Neil Ozonur

Safety Officer

Lion courses are the standard to which all other workshops should strive for!

Brody Saleen

Registered Environmental Health Specialist

Very well structured, comprehensive, and comparable to live training seminars I've participated in previously. I will recommend the online course to other colleagues with training requirement needs.

Neil Luciano

EHS Manager

The instructor was very dedicated to providing a quality experience. She did her best to make sure students were really comprehending the information.

Stephanie Venn

Inventory Control Specialist

Attending Lion Technology classes should be mandatory for every facility that ships or stores hazmat.

Genell Drake

Outbound Lead

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

This guide will help you identify 25 of the most -cited errors in RCRA training, recordkeeping, hazardous waste ID, container management, universal waste, and laboratories.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.