Enforcement
 The Illinois
EPA's enforcement program seeks to obtain prompt compliance with the Illinois
Environmental Protection Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, pose
a deterrent to actions that delay or prevent prompt compliance, provide
an incentive for timely and responsible compliance behavior, and ensure
that persons who comply with environmental requirements are not placed at
a competitive disadvantage.
To successfully implement its programs, the Illinois EPA uses compliance
assistance and education, compliance inspections and reviews, and finally
enforcement. Each is needed, and each complements the others. We all recognize
that most regulated entities comply voluntarily. Others may not comply,
because of a lack of information, or through negligence, or actual intent
to avoid the requirements and costs that may go with them. Deterrence
can only be had if the enforcement option is always available, and is
pursued timely and consistently. If not timely, deterrence will be diminished
by the distance in time between the violation and the pain of the penalty.
If not consistently applied, fairness is lacking and competitive disadvantages
may result.
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