EPA eases up on criminal enforcement, says PEER

摘要

Using data from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), a liberal environmental group, reported that the EPA’s criminal enforcement division under President Donald Trump is reaching new lows in the number of referrals for prosecution it makes to the DOJ. “In 2018, the EPA generated the fewest new criminal case referrals for prosecution than any year since 1988,” states PEER. The trend, which began under ex-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, appears to be continuing under Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “In the first two months of FY [fiscal year] 2019, the pace has slowed even further, with EPA making only 24 referrals,” states PEER. “When the effects of the government shutdown are figured in, the current year will likely set another all-time enforcement low mark.”