The Pacific Southwest region encompasses diverse landscapes and cultures and includes some of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas as well as the world’s most diverse agricultural economy. Its industries include numerous oil refineries, military bases and mining operations. EPA works with local, state, and tribal governments and other federal agencies to achieve compliance with our nation's environmental laws through enforcement actions and compliance assistance efforts. To combat environmental crime, several environmental crimes task forces for the Pacific Southwest work out of the Criminal Investigation Division.

Features

Southern California Dairies Ordered to Comply with the Clean Water Act (News release)

$5 million settlement with Evergreen Pulp, Inc. announced that will protect air quality in the Eureka, Calif. Area EPA, the California Air Resources Board, and North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District reach a $5 million settlement that will reduce emissions of particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants by approximately 340 tons annually.

Kinder Morgan agrees to buy emergency response equipment, pay penalty for failing to conduct emergency oil drills -- Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, the nation’s largest petroleum transporter, agreed to purchase emergency response equipment for the town of Truckee, Calif., and pay a $26,630 penalty for failing to conduct emergency drills at its Sparks, Nev., oil-storage and terminal facility. Also learn about EPA’s other efforts to clean up oil spills in the Pacific Southwest.

Enforcement Accomplishments

Read about enforcement and compliance assurance highlights in the Pacific Southwest Region.

Enforcement Highlights, 2005
Enforcement Highlights, 2004
Enforcement Highlights, 2003

Compliance assistance at work

Within the U.S., an estimated 10 tons of highly toxic mercury are released to the environment each year from mercury-containing light switches during the shredding and crushing of old vehicles.

U.S., Mexico cooperate to better monitor and inspect border hazwaste shipments

U.S. federal, Arizona, and Mexican environmental and customs agencies recently conducted a joint exercise at the Nogales, Arizona port of entry to improve coordination on inspecting hazardous waste shipments moving across the border. In addition, EPA concluded an enforcement action against three companies for violations involving hazardous waste shipments that caught fire while in transit between Tijuana and Riverside County, California.

Ensuring companies in your community file hazardous waste reports

Whether they are Fortune 500 companies or just neighborhood mom-and-pop shops, making sure companies report their hazardous waste is important to residents of nearby communities who want to know what's in their back yards.

More Enforcement News

• Environmental Enforcement Results, 2006 »
• Reducing Kids' Exposure to Lead »

News Releases

For the most recent compliance and enforcement news releases, go to the Region 9 Compliance and Enforcement Newsroom

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