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Making the Program Faster, Fairer, and More Efficient (Continued)
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STREAMLINING THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS AND OPTIMIZING FAIRNESS
EPA is dedicated to "Enforcement First." Encouraging PRPs to enter into cooperative cleanup settlements has reduced the need for litigation -- and has minimized transaction costs for both EPA and the PRPs.
EPA has taken significant steps to reduce litigation, promote earlier settlements, and optimize fairness concerns. By streamlining the enforcement process, EPA is able to reach settlement more quickly on terms that are considered more fair to the responsible parties. This streamlined process allows both EPA and the PRPs to move quickly to clean up sites -- and to increase the pace at which contaminated properties are returned to productive use.
Since 1992, responsible parties have performed over 70 percent of the new cleanup work at Superfund sites. And over the life of the Superfund program, EPA has reached settlements with private parties valued at over $18 billion.
EPA is making full use of its enforcement discretion to encourage settlements that are fair to all parties. Some of the tools that EPA uses to achieve more efficient and equitable settlements are described below.
