EPA enforcement in 2012 protects communities from harmful pollution

摘要

EPA recently released its annual enforcement results, showing a reduction of 2.2 billion pounds of air, water and land pollution, as well as 4.4 billion pounds of hazardous waste, and $252 million in civil and criminal penalties. Further enforcement efforts reduced smaller amounts of pollution but ones having substantial health impacts in communities. "Enforcement plays a vital role in protecting communities from harmful pollution," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "We are using vigorous enforcement, as well as innovations in monitoring and transparency, to reduce pollution violations, protect and empower communities and focus on the environmental problems that matter most."