Civil Enforcement

Improper waste handling, management and disposal practices present significant environmental threats. These improper activities also economically undercut facilities that operate in compliance with the provisions of RCRA and could lead to future contaminated sites under CERCLA. Working in partnership with State and Tribal governments, local communities and other Federal agencies, EPA identifies and addresses the most significant environmental and public health problems and strategically deploys its resources, taking integrated approaches to achieve the best environmental outcomes. The measures of success may be considered by looking at several factors, such as the number of facilities where enforcement actions have been taken, the reduction in pollutants released into the environment, the number of environmental improvement projects imposed, the penalties collected, etc. EPA reports this information in its annual Compliance and Enforcement Accomplishment Report.