WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stepped up its enforcement activities this year, leading to a significant decrease in pollution in heavily affected communities, according to a report published on Thursday.
This assessment revealed that the EPA has successfully concluded over 1,800 civil cases, marking a 3% rise compared to 2023. Additionally, there were 120 criminal prosecutions, reflecting a 17.6% increase from the prior year. The agency claimed that its “revitalized enforcement and compliance initiatives” led to more than 225 million pounds of pollution reduction within these marginalized areas. This report serves as a summary of enforcement actions taken during the Biden administration, just ahead of the forthcoming presidency of Donald Trump in January.
The agency’s enforcement program, now reinforced by the recruitment of 300 new staff members, has targeted “21st century environmental issues” such as climate change, environmental justice, and chemical waste management, explained David Uhlmann, the EPA’s assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. Notably, over half of the agency’s inspections and settlement outcomes concentrated on poor and disadvantaged communities that have endured the ramifications of pollution, highlighting the administration’s commitment to addressing environmental justice.
Among the noteworthy enforcement actions was the unprecedented criminal case against a California resident accused of illegally importing climate-harming air conditioning coolants into the U.S. This particular case concerned hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases that were once widely utilized in refrigerators and air conditioning systems.
The EPA has committed to enforcing a regulation mandating a 40% reduction in HFC usage, contributing to a global initiative aimed at combating climate change.
Further significant developments included engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. reaching a settlement exceeding $2 billion in fines and penalties and agreeing to recall 600,000 Ram trucks. This settlement arose from findings that Cummins had deployed illegal software to bypass diesel emissions testing for nearly a decade on vehicles produced by Stellantis. This fine stands as the largest ever imposed under the federal Clean Air Act.
Moreover, the EPA, in collaboration with the Justice Department, settled for $241.5 million with Marathon Oil concerning alleged air quality violations related to operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. This settlement mandates that Marathon reduces harmful emissions, leading to an estimated reduction of over 2.3 million tons of pollution.
Uhlmann, who assumed leadership in the enforcement office last year, remarked that the agency experienced “significant changes in our enforcement approach” thanks to increased funding from Congress. He stated that the revitalization process followed over a decade of budget cuts that left the enforcement programs struggling, compounded by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that the agency not only improved collaboration among its criminal and civil enforcement arms but also focused on accelerating case progress to ensure timely redress for communities affected by pollution violations.
As Donald Trump prepares to reclaim the presidency, Uhlmann expressed hope that the momentum in enforcement would persist. He pointed out that many civil and criminal investigations initiated over the past two years could yield results in 2025 and onward. Trump, having appointed former Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA, has promised to reduce regulations and target what he perceives as burdensome restrictions on energy production, including fossil fuels.
While Uhlmann refrained from speculating on potential shifts in enforcement under Trump, he emphasized that maintaining the rule of law and holding polluters accountable transcends partisan politics. He affirmed that the EPA’s enforcement actions will continue to be grounded in legal principles and factual evidence, ensuring that communities remain protected from harmful pollution.
