The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s FY2024 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Annual Results indicate 1,800-plus concluded civil cases; over 120 criminal defendants charged; 2.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions reduced, treated or eliminated; and, inspections totaling north of 8,500. Work completed in FY 2024, EPA contends, “has established a solid foundation for fulfilling the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment for generations to come.”
“The enforcement and compliance assurance program produced its strongest results since 2017, 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 EPA enforcement program is poised for even greater gains in the years ahead.”
The agency also delivered results from its “Climate Enforcement and Compliance Strategy” that directs all EPA enforcement and compliance offices to address climate change in criminal, civil, federal facilities and cleanup enforcement actions, and pursue climate mitigation, adaptation and resiliency whenever possible. In 2024, EPA focused on cutting climate super pollutants, including methane and hydrofluorocarbons, to deliver reductions under the strategy. The agency 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 (NECIs), which are designed to address the most significant pollution threats seen nationwide. Current NECIs include the first ever climate change, forever-chemicals per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and coal ash facility contamination targets. The agency continued three initiatives from the prior NECI cycle that began during the last administration focused on air toxics, safe drinking water and preventing chemical accidents.
PRODUCT LABELING UPDATE
Release of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Annual Results coincided with publishing of updates to EPA’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing. The document helps federal government purchasers and other buyers select products that are more sustainable and climate-friendly and contain safer chemical ingredients. The update marked the first time in nearly 10 years that EPA comprehensively evaluated private-sector standards and ecolabels and expanded the Recommendations.
With more than 460 ecolabels and standards in the marketplace, the Recommendations help buyers identify thousands of products and services that conserve energy or water, include more recycled content, and lower the consumption of single-use plastics. White House Executive Order 14057 directs federal agencies to maximize the procurement of sustainable products and services and to prioritize those that meet EPA’s Recommendations. Federal purchasers spend more than $730 billion every year; by guiding them to environmentally preferable products, the Recommendations can help save taxpayers money and prevent pollution, EPA contends.