National Enforcement Initiatives
EPA protects people’s health and safeguards communities by assuring compliance with the nation’s environmental laws and by taking enforcement action when laws are violated. Every three years, EPA sets national enforcement initiatives to focus civil and criminal enforcement resources and expertise on serious pollution problems affecting communities. The 2011-2013 initiatives were chosen with state and public input and support EPA’s seven priorities.
Not all pollution problems are best addressed as national enforcement initiatives. Learn more about all of EPA's enforcement activities.
Frequent Questions
Environmental Justice
EPA is taking enforcement action where illegal pollution poses greater risks to vulnerable and overburdened communities.
EPA's settlement with BP Whiting reduces harmful air emissions and requires fenceline pollution monitoring.
“Today's settlement will protect the residents of northwestern Indiana from harmful air pollution by requiring state-of-the-art pollution controls,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance."BP's agreement to install fenceline monitoring will also ensure that residents have access to critical information about pollution that may be affecting their community.”