EPA Reports Strongest Enforcement and Compliance Results Since 2017

The EPA reported its strongest enforcement results since 2017, including $1.7 billion in penalties and 1,851 civil cases concluded.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Dec 11, 2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported its fiscal year (FY) 2024 enforcement results, showcasing major advancements in pollution control and environmental justice.

In a recent release, the EPA announced $1.7 billion in penalties and the conclusion of 1,851 civil cases, the most in both cases since 2017. The agency reported the reduction of over 227 million pounds of pollution in overburdened communities, surpassing prior benchmarks. It also charged 121 criminal defendants and conducted over 8,500 inspections, up nearly 10 percent from FY 2023. Over half of these inspections targeted areas disproportionately affected by pollution.

“In Fiscal Year 2024, EPA’s enforcement and compliance assurance program produced its strongest results since 2017, focusing on efforts to combat climate change and tackling some of the nation’s most significant environmental threats to our shared air, water and land,” David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance said in a statement. “Based on investments Congress has made over the last two years, the EPA enforcement program is poised for even greater gains in the years ahead. Communities across America should expect nothing less.”

The EPA’s efforts extended to its six National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs), which tackle major threats such as air toxics, PFAS and coal ash contamination. The agency also made progress in its Climate Enforcement and Compliance Strategy by addressing methane emissions, illegal hydrofluorocarbon imports and other climate super pollutants. Over 2.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions were mitigated as a result.

The agency emphasized its focus on historically neglected communities, achieving 82 percent of completed Superfund settlements in overburdened areas. This approach aligns with the EPA’s mission to ensure clean air and safe water for all Americans. The EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Annual Results for Fiscal Year 2024 is available on the agency’s website.