Enforcement
Enforcement Goals
Aggressively go after pollution problems that make a difference in communities. Vigorous civil and criminal enforcement that targets the most serious water, air and chemical hazards; advance environmental justice by protecting vulnerable communities.
» Clean water
- Clean water act action plan: revamp enforcement and work with permitting to focus on the biggest pollution problems, including
- Get raw sewage out of the water
- Cut pollution from animal waste
- Reduce polluted storm water runoff
- Assure clean drinking water for all communities, including in Indian country
- Clean up great waters that matter to communities, e.g, Chesapeake Bay
» Clean air
- Cut toxic air pollution in communities
- Reduce air pollution from largest sources, including coal fired power plants, cement, acid and glass sectors
» Climate and clean energy
- Assure compliance with greenhouse gas reporting rule
- Encourage greenhouse gas emission reductions through settlements
- Target energy sector compliance with air, water and waste rules
» Protect people from exposure to hazardous chemicals
- Prevent releases of hazardous chemicals that threaten public health or the environment
- Press for clean up of hazardous sites in communities: polluter pays
- Reform chemical management enforcement and reduce exposure to pesticides
Reset our relationship with states: make sure we are delivering on our joint commitment to a clean and healthy environment
» Shared accountability
- Make joint progress with states and tribes toward clean air and water goals, protection from exposure to hazardous chemicals
- Work toward shared focus on protecting vulnerable communities
» Strengthened oversight
- Assure strong and effective state enforcement of federal environmental laws
- Press for consistent enforcement across states and regions: fairness and level playing field
» Establish new model for shared accountability and strengthened oversight, starting with water
- Build focus on highest priority problems into grants, enforcement and permitting agreements
- Define clear expectations for state performance
- Take federal action where not meeting minimum expectations
Improve transparency
» Make meaningful facility compliance information available and accessible using 21st century technologies
» Hold government accountable through public information on state and federal performance
» Promote better federal environmental decisions and public engagement through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)