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Environmental Criminal Enforcement Priorities for the 1990s

NCJ Number
139286
Journal
George Washington Law Review Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1991) Pages: 916-937
Author(s)
J M Strock
Date Published
1991
Length
22 pages
Annotation
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) criminal enforcement of environmental laws is examined, with emphasis on recent successes and priorities for the 1990's.
Abstract
The EPA's criminal enforcement efforts were modest during the 1970's, but growing concern over the unlawful disposal of hazardous waste resulted in the hiring of experienced criminal investigators and the major expansion of the criminal enforcement program in 1983. The result has been a growing number of criminal referrals, indictments, and convictions. For the 1990's, priorities are to improve the criminal enforceability of EPA statutes and regulations, to expand criminal enforcement resources and infrastructure, to develop criminal enforcement capabilities at the State level, to expand international criminal enforcement, and to improve coordination between Federal enforcement agencies. EPA's program will quadruple in size by 1995 and will grow in experience, sophistication, and dedication. Footnotes