EPA Eyeing ‘Poster Child’ Enforcement Cases to Deter Violations

摘要

EPA enforcement staff are responding to an environmental justice “call to arms” from Administrator Michael Regan by ramping up criminal investigations of violations that affectcommunities with disproportionate levels of pollution, an agency official said.“We want to have that poster child to say don’t let this happen to you,” said enforcement official Pam Mazakas, describing the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to pursue highprofilecases that deter violations by other companies.Mazakas, deputy director of the EPA’s Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics, and Training, shared details of the agency’s work during an Environmental Law Institute webinar Friday.The pledge to boost enforcement work fits with a broader Biden administration effort to address the disproportionate environmental harms faced by many communities of color.