WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) today released its yearly enforcement and compliance results demonstrating a focus on violations that have the most impact on public health.
"Our enforcement work over the past year reflects our focus on the biggest violators and the cases that make the most difference in protecting American communities from pollution," said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Big cases like the Deepwater Horizon disaster and Walmart's illegal handling of pesticides and hazardous waste resulted in nationwide reforms and billions of dollars to help affected communities. We've reduced deadly air toxics from refineries and chemical plants and cleaned up toxic pollution in communities. We're working with cities to cut discharges of raw sewage and contaminated stormwater to the nation's waters. Driving compliance and deterring violations in these sectors is a critical way E.P.A. protects the air, water and land on which Americans depend, and creates a level playing field for companies that do the right thing."
Highlights from fiscal year 2013 include:
-- EPA's cases resulted in criminal sentences requiring violators to pay in excess of $4.5 billion in combined fines, restitution and court-ordered environmental plans that benefit communities, and in excess of $1.1 billion in civil penalties.
-- Pursuing justice for Gulf Coast residents through the
Deepwater Horizon cases, resulting in over $3.7 billion going back to benefit the Gulf States and communities impacted by the spill.
-- Requiring
Walmart to commit to cutting edge hazardous waste handling systems, as well as compliance and training programs that will protect employees and nearby residents. Walmart also paid in excess of $80 million in fines and penalties for mishandling pesticides and hazardous waste.
-- Ensuring that companies take responsibility and clean up the toxic pollution they create. In a landmark settlement, AVX Corporation committed to pay over $366 million to clean up contamination in Massachusetts's
New Bedford Harbor, the biggest single-site cash settlement in Superfund history.
-- Reducing dangerous air toxics released from industrial flares at refineries and chemical plants, requiring companies to implement technologies that control emissions. A recent Clean Air Act settlement with
Shell Deer Park in Texas requires continuous monitoring of cancer-causing benzene and vehicle retrofits to reduce diesel emissions, put in place to benefit nearby overburdened communities. See another example of innovative pollution controls from
Countrymark Refining.
-- Reducing emissions from coal fired power plants, requiring companies to cut pollution and conduct mitigation plans that promote energy efficiency and protect clean air for local communities. See examples from
Wisconsin Power and Light,
Dominion Energy and
Louisiana Generating.
-- Working with cities to cut discharges of raw sewage and contaminated stormwater to the nation's waters through integrated planning, green infrastructure and other innovative approaches. This helps cities manage resources better, cut pollution and enhance quality of life for local residents. Recent settlements with
Seattle and King Co., Washington and
Wyandotte County, Kansas require cities to initially provide relief to overburdened communities most impacted by sewage discharges. Other examples of innovative settlements include
San Antonio, Texas and
Jackson, Mississippi.
More information about EPA's Fiscal Year 2013 enforcement results:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/enforcement-annual-results-fiscal-year-fy-2013
