House Committee To Review EPA's Enforcement Activities

Dianne R Phillips is a Partner in our Boston office.

On Feb. 26, 2019, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing entitled "EPA's Enforcement Program: Taking the Environmental Cop Off the Beat." According to the Chairman's Memorandum, the hearing will examine the effectiveness and consistency of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in implementing and enforcing federal environmental regulations and laws, as well as the resulting impacts of the Agency's efforts and actions on human health and the environment. Concerns have been raised that enforcement and compliance results have recently declined across a broad variety of key measures. Both the value of injunctive relief and administrative and judicial penalties were the lowest levels in over a decade based on the 2018 year-end report. The hearing will also examine the impact of staff reductions and proposed budget cuts.