Environmental Law

On December 23, 2009, the USEPA released its enforcement results for fiscal year 2009 (which runs from September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2009).  The USEPA is also presenting its report in a new web-based tool and interactive map.  This new tool allows you to get detailed information about the enforcement actions by location (at almost 4,600 facilities).

Typically, the USEPA describes its annual enforcement results by two measures: 1) the estimated pounds of pollutants reduced; and 2) the estimated cost of commitments made to control or reduce pollution.  In its 2009 fiscal year, the USEPA concluded enforcement actions requiring polluters to invest more than $5,000,000.00 on pollution controls, cleanup, and environmental projects (we do not know how much was actually spent).  The enforcement actions also had defendants committed to install controls and take other measures to reduce pollution by approximately 580,000,000 pounds annually once all required controls are fully implemented.

The new web-based mapping tool allows one to view the locations of facilities that were the subject of enforcement actions.  There is a separate map for civil and criminal actions.  I like the map tool and have been working my way through it.  The map does not list all of the civil enforcement as the USEPA did not map the locations of drinking water treatment plants for national security reasons. 

According to the USEPA, the new mapping tool will help increase transparency, improve access to data, and provide the public with the bigger picture of enforcement activity occurring in communities around the country. 

Access the map at http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/reports/endofyear/eoy2009/index.html

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me via e-mail at walter.james@jamespllc.com.

WDJiii