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EPA enforcement drives Pacific Northwest pollution reductions in 2007

Release Date: 11/15/2007
Contact Information: Marianne Deppman, 206-553-1237, [email protected] or Mark MacIntyre, 206-553-7302, [email protected]

Elin Miller, EPA Regional Administrator: “Tough enforcement means cleaner neighborhoods .”

(Seattle, WA – November 15, 2007) – For 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported that enforcement and compliance actions in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska helped reduce or treat 9.1 million pounds of pollution in the region. EPA enforcement data for FY 07 also reveals that 203 completed enforcement actions resulted in facilities investing $31million in order to comply with federal environmental rules.

According to Elin D. Miller, EPA’s regional administrator in Seattle, the Agency’s enforcement and compliance program helps protect communities, the environment and inspires responsibility in the regulated community.

“Tough enforcement means cleaner neighborhoods,” said Miller. “When people and businesses pollute illegally, we all pay the price where we live, work and play. At EPA, we try to make it easy for companies and individuals to see the benefits of playing by the rules and obeying the law. Part of being a sustainable business in today’s economy means realizing that pollution never pays.”

Snapshot of the EPA regional enforcement record for the past three years

	FY05	FY06	FY07
Total Inspections	1221	1299	976
Pounds of pollution reduced/treated	13,954,601	26,429,316	9,100,000
Total Penalties Assessed	$1,778,908	$3,567,324	$4,115,000
Enforcement Actions Concluded	196	345	203

Total Penalties Assessed in Region 10 States

Alaska: $1,492,849
Idaho: $330,299
Oregon: $163,450
Washington $2,137,80

For more Region 10 results: http://epa.gov/region10/offices/oec/Region10Results.htm

For national results: https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/names/hq_2007-11-15_oeca