Federal Environmental Enforcement Actions Initiated by Type of Violation and Enforcement Action statistics


			Total			Administrative actions¹					Civil ²				Criminal ³
Type of violation
	1994	1995	1996	1997	1994	1995	1996	1997	1994	1995	1996	1997	1994	1995	1996	1997

Total actions.....................................................	4,096	3,722	2,902	4,129	3,544	2,969	2,171	3,427	209	207	220	207	343	546	511	446

Environmental protection............................................	(NA)	(NA)	(NA)	3,842	(NA)	(NA)	(NA)	3,427	199	200	211	204	127	234	203	211
Clean Air Act....................................................	499	303	338	457	435	232	242	391	45	35	56	35	19	36	40	31
Clean Water Act..................................................	1,973	1,936	1,167	1,812	1,841	1,774	998	1,642	80	74	72	62	52	88	97	108
Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA)..................................................	206	192	336	505	115	92	238	423	13	25	21	82	31	34	37	59
Comprehensive Environmental Response
Compensation, and Liability (CERCLA)...............................................	288	320	259	391	264	280	234	305	60	66	61	23	11	15	4	4
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)................................................	340	#��!	191	191	333	187	178	185	(NA)	(NA)	(NA)	(NA)	6	6	12	6
Other......................................................................	574	454	292	486	556	404	281	481	1	(NA)	1	0	8	43	5	3

Wildlife ⁴..................................................................	(NA)	(NA)	(NA)	287	(NA)	(NA)	(NA)	(NA)	10	7	6	2	216	312	308	235

NA Not available.
1 Represents actions sucha s requiring the violator to comply with Federal environmental standards, suspending the violator's permit to discharge, and/or assessing a penalty for noncompliance.
2 Represents filing by U.S. attorneys in U.S. district court only. Statistics describing administrative actions for wildlife and conservation offenses were not available.
3 Criminal actions include only those offenses classified as felonies or Class A misdemeanors.
4 Includes Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Lacey Act.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Federal Enforcement of Environmental Laws, 1997, series NCJ 175686, November 1999.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/stssent.htm * Numerous Federal laws have been enacted to protect the environment and wildlife. In this report, this collection of environmental laws comprises (1) environmental protection laws that protect the safety and well-being of communities from excessive and unnecessary emission of environmental pollutants and (2) wildlife laws that protect endangered or threatened species as well as migratory birds.

Federal Environmental and Wildlife Protection Acts

Environmental protection acts

Clean Air Act -- to prevent the deterioration of air quality. (42 U.S.C. Sec.s 7401-7491)

Clear Water Act -- to regulate the sources of water pollution. (33 U.S.C. Sec.s 1251-1376)

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and

Liability (CERCLA) -- to address the problem of abandoned hazardous waste sites. (42 U.S.C. Sec.s 9601-9675)

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) -- to protect human health and the environment from dangers associated with waste management. (42 U.S.C. Sec.s 6901-6992)

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)--TO REGULATE CHEMICAL substances in which the public or environment may become exposed. (15 U.S.C. Sec.s 2601-2671)

Act to Prevent Pollution by Ships (APPS)--TO ADDRESS THE DISCHARGE of harmful substances into the oceans. (33 U.S.C. Sec.s 1901-1950)

Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) -- to protect the environment from pollu- tion. (42 U.S.C. Sec.s 11001-11050)

Wildlife acts

Endangered Species Act (ESA) -- to conserve the various species of fish, wildlife, and plants facing extinc- tion. (16 U.S.C. Sec.s 1531(b))

Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA)--TO PROVIDE A PROGRAM FOR the conservation of bald and golden eagles. (16 U.S.C. Sec.s 668)

Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) -- to protect migratory birds during their nesting season. (16 U.S.C. Sec.s 707)

Lacey Act -- to control the trade in of exotic fish, wildlife, and plants into the United States. (16 U.S.C. Sec.s 3372)

*

http://www.allcountries.org/uscensus/361_federal_environmental_enforcement_actions_initiated_by.html

These tables are based on figures supplied by the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce and are subject to revision by the Census Bureau.

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