Enforcement

EPA achieves cleaner air, purer water and better-protected land in many different ways. Compliance with the nation's environmental laws is the goal, but enforcement is a vital part of encouraging governments, companies and others who are regulated to meet their environmental obligations. Enforcement deters those who might otherwise profit from violating the law, and levels the playing field with environmentally compliant companies.

EPA's civil, cleanup, and criminal enforcement programs work with the Department of Justice, state, and Tribal governments to take legal actions in both federal and state courts that bring polluters into compliance with federal environmental laws. The Agency emphasizes those actions that reduce the most significant risks to human health or the environment, and consults extensively with states and other stakeholders in determining risk-based priorities.

Civil Enforcement
Serves a number of important goals including, returning violators to compliance and deterring misconduct in others, eliminating or preventing environmental harm, and preserving a level playing field for responsible companies that abide by the laws.
Air | Water | Multimedia | Waste | Toxics | More . . .

Cleanup Enforcement
Deals with sites where there's been a migration or a release, or a threat of release, of hazardous substances into the environment.
Superfund | RCRA Cleanup | Brownfields & Land Revitalization | More . . .

Criminal Enforcement
Used against the most serious environmental violations as well as those which involve egregious negligence or conduct involving intentional, willful or knowing disregard of the law.
Investigations | Partnerships | Homeland Security | More . . .