Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s FY2024 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Annual Results report indicates 1,800-plus concluded civil cases, over 120 criminal defendants charged, more than 225 million pounds of recorded pollution reductions, and 8,500+ inspections, a nearly 10 percent year-over-year increase. Work completed over the October 2023-September 2024 window, EPA contends, establishes “a solid foundation for fulfilling the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment for generations to come.”
“[Our] program produced its strongest results since 2017, focusing on efforts to combat climate change and tackling some of the nation’s most significant environmental threats to our shared air, water and land,” says EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Assistant Administrator David Uhlmann. “Based on investments Congress has made over the last two years, the program is poised for even greater gains.”
EPA has also delivered results from its “Climate Enforcement and Compliance Strategy.” It directs offices to a) address climate change in criminal, civil, federal facilities and cleanup enforcement actions; and, b) pursue climate mitigation, adaptation and resiliency whenever possible in its enforcement actions and compliance assurance program. The agency attributes strategy success to a focus on cutting climate super pollutants, including methane from oil and gas operations and landfills, plus unlawful imports of hydrofluorocarbons. EPA conducted over 450 inspections as part of the effort and coordinated criminal, civil and administrative efforts in ways it never has before.
EPA drove results across all six FY 2024-2027 National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECI), which are designed to address the most significant pollution threats seen nationwide. Current initiatives include the first ever climate change, forever-chemicals per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and coal ash facility contamination targets. The agency continued prior NECI cycle measures focusing on air toxics, safe drinking water and preventing chemical accidents.