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EPA Region 6 Compliance and Enforcement Results for 2010

Release Date: 12/06/2010
Contact Information: For more information contact Dave Bary or Joe Hubbard at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

(DALLAS – December 6, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional office announced that enforcement actions in fiscal year 2010 resulted in $887 million in pollution controls by companies, governments and other regulated entities. The region estimates a total of 83 million pounds of pollutants will be reduced, treated or eliminated as well as 1.9 billion pounds of hazardous waste from five states. In addition, over $14 million will be used to pay environmental penalties. The Dallas office is responsible for federal environmental programs in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

“Holding polluters responsible is a part of our work. It’s important to make clear that when people break environmental laws – laws that have proven over these last 40 years to have had a marked difference in people's lives – they put people and communities at risk,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz. “We have a strong record of success in enforcing environmental crimes and will continue to do so whenever necessary to protect people and communities.”

In 2010, EPA brought to conclusion over 500 enforcement actions against environmental violators in the five state region. A state-by-state summary is available at https://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6en/10-axns.html.

EPA and state regulatory agencies share environmental enforcement authority for regulated businesses and industry within each state. Through close coordination, the agencies focus on enforcement actions which bring about the most environmental benefit. Often, these investigations and actions are brought by both federal and state agencies. EPA and state agencies also bring separate environment enforcement cases as part of our shared annual planning efforts.

For 40 years, EPA has carried out a mission to protect the air we breathe, to safeguard the water that flows through our communities and into our homes, and to care for the land where we build homes, schools and businesses. Compliance with environmental laws is essential to controlling pollution and protecting the people from exposure to harmful chemicals.

More about activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at: https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/dec2010.html