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ARTICLE · 13 MAY 2021

Now's The Time: Get Ready For Increased EPA Inspections In Environmental Justice Communities

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Companies may also see increased activity among local community groups and organizations spurred by EPA efforts to work with, and to share information with, overburdened communities.

United StatesEnvironment
Baker Botts
Baker Botts
Jeffrey H. Wood
Jeffrey H. Wood

The Biden Administration continues to advance prioritization of funding, focus, and policy on environmental justice ("EJ") communities disproportionately impacted by higher levels of pollution, and now is the time for companies to prepare for related changes on the horizon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ("EPA") Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance ("OECA") recently formed an Enforcement Steering Committee to oversee and coordinate EJ enforcement work and other agency initiatives, signaling an intent to strengthen enforcement in EJ communities. See Memorandum From Lawrence E. Starfield, Acting Asst. Admin, OECA, Strengthening Enforcement in Communities with Environmental Justice Concerns (Apr. 30, 2021) ("OECA Memorandum"). OECA's formation of the new Committee implements, in part, President Biden's early Executive Order, which directed the agency to "strengthen enforcement of environmental violations with disproportionate impact on underserved

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