The fun work in our business is when we get to untangle complicated issues involving soil and groundwater contamination … Those projects when we can roll up our sleeves and help our clients figure out Where did the contamination originate? Who is responsible? How do you prove it? How do you most effectively address the issue?
As we begin a new year, Dragun is again providing our annual environmental compliance calendar for Michigan (Image Purchased from Shutterstock).
The more constant part of our business is environmental compliance. Environmental compliance isn’t “sexy,” and when you stay ahead of the enforcement curve, it isn’t exciting.
But as anyone who has been on the wrong side of enforcement can attest, it’s far better to address mundane, routine environmental compliance tasks than ugly environmental enforcement issues.
EPA’s Enforcement Results for 2016
When it comes to environmental enforcement, 2016 was another very busy year for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as they enforced the nation’s environmental laws.
According to the EPA, their 2016 enforcement accomplishments include
- More than $13.7 billion in investments by companies in actions and equipment to control pollution. In addition, a case against Volkswagen lodged in June and entered just after the end of fiscal year 2015 adds up to $14.7 billion to remedy Clean Air Act violations.
- More than $1 billion in commitments from responsible parties to clean up Superfund sites.
- $6 billion in combined federal administrative, civil judicial penalties and criminal fines.
- 93 combined years of incarceration for sentenced defendants.
- $31.6 million for supplemental environmental projects that provide direct benefits to local communities across the country.
If you care to contrast the EPA enforcement efforts over the past two years, see our blog from about a year ago.
While environmental compliance is a constant, it is also dynamic and requires close attention. As we have in the past (Spill Plans and Environmental Justice, Environmental Enforcement at Retail, Vapor Intrusion Update, Spill Plans for Hazardous Substances, etc.), we will continue to do our best to share our observations regarding compliance and regulatory changes, as well as enforcement actions, with you.
Along that line, as we begin a new year, here is our annual environmental compliance calendar for Michigan to assist you with the “mundane.”
If you have any questions about environmental compliance issues, contact Matthew Schroeder, M.S., P.E. (mschroeder@dragun.com) or Jeffrey Bolin, M.S., CHMM (jbolin@dragun.com) at 248-932-0228.