Compliance Incentives

Did you recently conduct a voluntary environmental audit of your facility and find violations?

Do you believe that it is only a matter of time before a regulatory agency finds out?

If you answer yes to both of these questions, you might want to take advantage of EPA's Voluntary Audit Policy. Under this policy, EPA can substantially reduce civil penalties for those that voluntarily disclose and promptly correct violations that are identified through self-policing and meet certain other specified conditions, except in cases involving serious harm to public health or the environment. 

In most cases, the "gravity" (punitive) component of the penalty may be fully eliminated, but EPA would still be able to collect any economic benefit as a result of non-compliance.

This site provides you with information concerning environmental audits and EPA's compliance incentives for self-auditing. In particular, you will find information on:

• U.S. EPA's Audit Policy 

• How to Make a Voluntary Disclosure Under EPA's Audit Policy

• EPA Region 2 Audit Policy Cases

• Q's & A's on EPA Audit Agreements

• EPA Region 2 Audit Agreements

• EPA Audit Policy Guidances and Resources  

• Self-Assessment Tools (e.g., compliance checklists, audit protocols)  

• EPA Region 2 Environmental Auditing Program for Small Businesses