EPA Announces National Enforcement Initiatives for Coming Years

Source of article: EPA, 18 February 2016

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced its seven National Enforcement Initiatives for fiscal years 2017-2019, which focus on national pollution challenges where EPA’s enforcement efforts will protect public health. For the next cycle starting on October 1, 2016, EPA will retain four of its current National Enforcement Initiatives, add two new initiatives, and expand one to include a new area of focus.

The fiscal year 2017-2019 National Enforcement Initiatives are:

1. Keeping Industrial Pollutants Out of the Nation’s Waters (new initiative)

2. Reducing Risks of Accidental Releases at Industrial and Chemical Facilities (new initiative)

3. Cutting Hazardous Air Pollutants (expanded initiative)

4. Reducing Air Pollution from the Largest Sources

5. Ensuring Energy Extraction Activities Comply with Environmental Laws

6. Keeping Raw Sewage and Contaminated Stormwater Out of the Nation’s Waters

7. Preventing Animal Waste from Contaminating Surface and Ground Water.  EPA is expanding its initiative focused on reducing toxic air pollution by adding large storage tanks and hazardous waste facilities to its work to address public health threats.

National Enforcement Initiatives reinforce EPA’s core enforcement work. One of EPA’s top enforcement priorities is to protect safe drinking water, and three of its initiatives include a focus on keeping pollutants out of drinking water sources … EPA selects National Enforcement Initiatives every three years to focus resources on national environmental problems where there is significant non-compliance with laws, and where federal enforcement efforts can make a difference.

The initiatives will cover three fiscal years, and focus on employing Next Generation Compliance strategies to enhance enforcement cases and build compliance. Next Generation Compliance is EPA’s strategy to address today’s pollution challenges through a modern approach to increase compliance, utilizing new tools while strengthening vigorous enforcement of environmental laws.  EPA’s new work will address sources of pollution that pose direct public health and environmental threats to communities.”