Enforcement


Settlement Leads to Actions, Penalty for Massachusetts Site

Settlement Leads to Actions, Penalty for Massachusetts Site

The EPA alleged violations of standards relating to hazardous waste management.

Clean Water Act Violations: Idaho and Missouri Companies Agree to Pay Penalty

Alleged Clean Water Act Violations: Idaho and Missouri Companies Agree to Pay Penalty

The Missouri company will pay $210,000 and the Idaho company will pay $222,400.

ASTM 1527-21 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Standards Update Summary

ASTM 1527-21 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Standards Update Summary

The standard was revised last November.

The Environmental Protection Agency Loosens Pollution Rules During Pandemic

The Environmental Protection Agency Loosens Pollution Rules During Pandemic

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the EPA drastically reduced pollution rules for power plants, factories and other facilities.

The Clean Water Regulations of 2015 are No Longer, Thanks to the EPA

The Clean Water Regulations of 2015 are No Longer, Thanks to the EPA

In September of 2019, the Trump administration announced the real of one of the Obama-era’s biggest environmental actions: The Waters of the United States rules, among others. Now, it’s a new game for chemical use.

Encamp Launches First Ever Compliance Calendar

Encamp Launches First Ever Compliance Calendar

Today, environmental software platform, Encamp, announced the release of Encamp Calendar. Now, users can use an organized calendar to stay on top of their federal and state compliance reporting schedule.

Carnival Cruise Lines Paying $20 Million Criminal Penalty for Probation Violations

"A corporation is responsible to its shareholders and board of directors to be profitable, but not by breaking the law and destroying the very environment in which it navigates for profit," said Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida. "Carnival's failure to comply with the terms of its probation and, later, its attempt to drown its deceit goes against the fiber of corporate compliance.

Consent Order Signed as Hawaiian Dairy Closes

The order was completed to address numerous discharges of wastewater containing manure from the dairy to state waters during the past two years that were documented by the department, and it requires Big Island Dairy's owners to terminate their dairy operations.



New CalEPA Secretary Appointed

Jared Blumenfeld, 49, of San Francisco, has been appointed secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

Waste Recycler Settles RCRA Case with EPA

The settlement requires Rho-Chem, LLC to complete a supplemental environmental project to purchase and provide at least $352,992 worth of emergency response instruments and communication and computing equipment to the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Homeland Security/Hazardous Materials Response Section.

Colorado Taking Action on Orphaned Oil & Gas Wells

By Aug. 1, the state's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission will produce an updated list of all such sites known to exist in the state. Gov. John Hickenlooper's executive order expands state efforts to plug, remediate, and reclaim them and to prevent additional wells and sites from being orphaned in the future.

Authorities Worldwide Target Wildlife, Timber Smugglers

"Operation Thunderstorm has seen significant seizures at global level, showing how coordinated global operations can maximize impact," said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock. "Operation Thunderstorm sends a clear message to wildlife criminals that the world's law enforcement community is homing in on them."

U.S. Steel Settles CWA Case Involving Wastewater Spill

A consent decree was filed in federal district court in the Northern District of Indiana that requires U.S. Steel to pay more than $600,000 as a civil penalty and to reimburse EPA and the National Park Service for response costs incurred after an April 2017 spill of wastewater containing hexavalent chromium that entered a waterway flowing into Lake Michigan.

TCEQ Executive Director Stepping Down

Richard A. Hyde, P.E., is retiring effective in April.

NC DEQ Cites, Fines Swine Farm for Wastewater Violation

DEQ began its investigation after an anonymous tip. The investigators estimated that 987,440 gallons of wastewater were illegally discharged from the lagoon, with contaminants from wastewater eventually making their way to a tributary of the Trent River 1.5 miles away.

Sunoco Pipeline Agrees to $12.6 Million Penalty, State's Hold on Permits Lifted

Construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline can resume. "DEP will continue to monitor and enforce the conditions of the permits and will take necessary enforcement actions for any future violations," said McDonnell. "If a resident should witness pollution from the pipeline affecting streams or other waterways, then please alert DEP at 1-800-541-2050."

TCEQ Fines Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc.

The fine was included in $1,083,788 in fines against 46 regulated entities for violating state environmental regulations.

Michigan Congressman Introduces Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act

Michigan Congressman Introduces Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act

The Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act was introduced earlier this month and would “impose additional requirements on portions of petroleum pipelines that cross waters of the Great Lakes,” among other goals, according to the bill’s text.

BSEE Increases Maximum Civil Penalty Amounts for Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Violations

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement announced Wednesday that the maximum civil penalty rate for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act will increase from $42,704 to $43,576 a day for each violation.

DEP Penalizes Energy Corporation of America for Drilling Violations

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has collected a $1.7 million civil penalty prescribed in a consent order and agreement with Energy Corporation of America (ECA) for violations at 17 well sites in Greene and Clearfield counties.