EPA is facing calls to overhaul its enforcement strategy after showing fiscal year 2013 drops in inspections, cases and other enforcement metrics, with environmentalists saying the results show a need to divert shrinking funding to the enforcement program while conservatives say EPA should be focusing on the largest alleged violators. The enforcement results released Feb. 7 create further complications for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), which is already drawing criticism for its draft strategic plan for FY14-18 due to concerns about a reduction in planned enforcement activities. OECA's "next generation" enforcement goal of relying more on data than inspections for enforcement is also prompting push-back from both liberal and conservative groups.
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