BOSTON, February 25, 2019 (Reuters) – Enforcement activities by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have fallen sharply since 2018, with criminal fines and civil penalties paid to polluters falling to new lows, a Washington D.C. watchdog group reported Friday in a report.
According to a study by Environmental Integrity Project, EPA enforcement activity including criminal investigations and inspections declined by approximately half between the 2018-2020 fiscal years and the average yearly totals from 2002 and 2017, compared to the 2002 and 2017 averages.
The nonprofit group stated that civil penalties for 2018-2021 were at minimum 28% lower than 2002-2017 and criminal fines dropped 49% after adjusting to inflation.
Register now to get unlimited FREE access to Reuters.com
Register
The EPA declined comment on the conclusions of the report.
Eric Schaeffer, executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project, and a former director of civil enforcement at the EPA, stated that the EPA’s ability to enforce the country’s environmental laws has decreased partly due to budget cuts.
The agency’s resources have declined since fiscal 2010, when it had a $10.3 billion annual budget and a staff of over 17,000 people. According to EPA figures, the agency’s resources have dwindled under President Joe Biden’s leadership. In fiscal 2021, spending was $9.2B.
Schaeffer reported that in the 2021 federal fiscal years ending Sept. 30, the number and charges of criminals (123) and polluters (105) were at their lowest levels in over two decades. However, fines and years in prison were at their lowest.
Register now to get unlimited FREE access to Reuters.com
Register
Reporting by Tim McLaughlin. Editing by David Gregorio
Our Standards The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles
