Agriculture Policies & Guidance
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EPA, as a regulatory agency, has primary responsibility for enforcing the environmental statutes and regulations of the United States. As such, it is granted explicit enforcement authority in all of the major environmental statutes. Sometimes, however, that authority needs to be further refined or explained. In such cases, EPA may develop and implement policies and write guidance. In addition, EPA sometimes issues policy or guidance to encourage compliance with environmental requirements.
General Enforcement Policies
Some EPA policies and guidance are not necessarily related to a specific statute or regulation, but instead present a multimedia approach or nonregulatory effort to encourage compliance. The following are some of EPA's major enforcement policies and guidance.- Audit Policy: Incentives for Self-Policing
- Audit Policy: Interpretive Guidance (PDF, 1.38MB)
- Small Business Compliance Policy (PDF, 43KB)
- Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP) Policy (PDF, 1.88MB)
- Other SEP Policy and Guidance
- Routine Biosecurity Procedures for EPA Personnel Visiting Farms, Ranches, Slaughterhouses and other Facilities with Livestock and Poultry (PDF, 38KB)
Statute-Specific Policy Categories
In addition to the general policies and guidance listed above, there are numerous other policies and guidance that were developed under specific statutes or that relate to specific environmental program areas. The following are links to those types of policies and guidance.- Clean Air Act (CAA) Enforcement
- Clean Water Act (CWA) Enforcement
- Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA)
- Hazardous and Solid Waste (RCRA)
- Pesticides Enforcement (FIFRA)
- Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) and the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA)
- Site Remediation (Superfund/CERCLA)
- Toxics and Pesticides Enforcement (TSCA)