The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2015 annual enforcement and compliance results highlighted by large cases that reduce pollution, level the playing field for responsible companies, and protect public health in communities across the country. In fiscal year 2015, EPA secured record-setting hazardous waste, Clean Air Act, and Superfund settlements, and acted swiftly to win a large criminal plea agreement following a major coal ash spill, among other accomplishments. Additionally, EPA made significant progress on cases that will benefit communities well into the future, by pursuing a final settlement that puts billions of dollars to work restoring the Gulf and helping communities affected by the BP oil spill, and by launching an investigation against Volkswagen for illegally emitting air pollution from diesel vehicles. Enforcement actions required companies to invest more than $7 billion in actions and equipment to control pollution and clean up contaminated sites. EPA’s cases resulted in $404 million in combined federal administrative, civil judicial penalties, and criminal fines. Other results include:
- Reductions of an estimated 430 million pounds of air pollutants.
- Almost $2 billion in commitments from responsible parties to clean up Superfund sites.
- More than $39 million invested in environmental projects that provide direct benefits to communities harmed by pollution.
More information about EPA’s Fiscal Year 2015 enforcement results:
https://archive.epa.gov/epa/enforcement/enforcement-annual-results-fiscal-year-2015.html