EPA Will Ramp Up Environmental Enforcement, Focus on EJ Communities

EPA Will Ramp Up Environmental Enforcement, Focus on EJ Communities

EPA’s acting chief of enforcement sent a memo to staff last week (that The Hill obtained) calling for them to “[s]trengthen enforcement in overburdened communities by resolving environmental noncompliance through remedies with tangible benefits for the community” with a particular emphasis on “cornerstone environmental statutes.” 

Why This Matters: The Biden administration can immediately make progress correcting environmental injustice through fair and strong enforcement of current laws

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Judge Garland Will Bring Rare Environmental Experience to Attorney General Role

Judge Garland Will Bring Rare Environmental Experience to Attorney General Role

Judge Merrick Garland is expected to “respect science and the rule of law” if confirmed as Attorney General. Plus he has deep experience, having heard many environmental cases over his twenty-plus years on the bench in Washington, D.C. 

Why This Matters: I (Monica) can’t think of an Attorney General who has spent this much time digging into the details of challenging environmental cases.

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Just When We Need Them Most, State Environmental Agencies Cut Budgets

Just When We Need Them Most, State Environmental Agencies Cut Budgets

The Trump Administration may be expecting more of state environmental agencies — indeed, they have delegated more authority to certain states in order to ensure greater “flexibility” for industry — but a majority of states have cut the budget of their environmental agencies according to a new report entitled “The Thin Green Line” by the Environmental Integrity Project. 

Why This Matters:  This compounds the neglect of the federal government, which has cut EPA’s budget for pollution control and science over the same time period.

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