The EPA focuses its enforcement and compliance assurance resources on the most serious environmental violations by developing and implementing national program priorities, called National Compliance Initiatives (NCIs). The NCIs are in addition to the EPA’s core enforcement work, including protecting clean and safe water, reducing air pollution, and protecting safe and healthy land. The six FY 2020-2023 NCIs are listed below. 

These six NCIs advance the Agency’s Strategic Plan objective to improve compliance with our nation’s environmental laws while enhancing shared accountability between the EPA and states and federally-recognized Indian tribes with authorized environmental programs. The EPA will carry out these NCIs using our full range of compliance assurance tools, including compliance assistance, self-audits, and informal and formal enforcement actions to achieve the goals of each NCI. While compliance assistance will be a component of these NCIs, formal enforcement will remain an important tool to address serious noncompliance and create general deterrence.

While not an NCI, the enforcement and compliance assurance program also contributes to the Agency’s goal of reducing childhood lead exposures and associated health impacts as part of implementing the Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposure.

Air

• Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants
• Stopping Aftermarket Defeat Devices for Vehicles and Engines

Hazardous Chemicals

• Reducing Hazardous Air Emissions from Hazardous Waste Facilities 
• Reducing Risks of Accidental Releases at Industrial and Chemical Facilities 

Water

• Reducing Significant Non-Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits
• Reducing Non-Compliance with Drinking Water Standards at Community Water Systems