New ELPC Report Uncovers Declining Enforcement in EPA Region 5

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Dear John,

Recently, the EPA announced it is going to relax enforcement of environmental laws during the current public health crisis, giving polluters free reign and putting our air and water at risk at the worst possible time. But guess what? This trend is just the latest step in a long-term enforcement decline from this EPA under the Trump administration.

I was a co-author of ELPC’s new watchdog report, EPA Region 5 Clean Water Enforcement Declines. Our team discovered multi-year trends showing the EPA stepping back from its responsibility to protect the Great Lakes under the Clean Water Act. We reviewed and analyzed publicly available enforcement data for EPA’s Region 5 office, which covers six Great Lakes states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. We found shrinking funds, plummeting staff levels, declining enforcement metrics, and a corresponding rise in significant noncompliance with the Clean Water Act.

Despite decades of bipartisan agreement on the value of environmental regulation, this administration has shown disregard for the basic responsibilities of environmental protection.

READ THE REPORT

The Great Lakes contain 21% of the world’s surface freshwater and provide drinking water for 42 million people. The lakes support fisheries, wildlife habitats, recreation, and many other industries. We do not take our Great Lakes and public health for granted, and neither should the EPA.

The EPA has a critical job: to faithfully and fairly enforce the Clean Water Act. Right now, they are not doing their job. But ELPC will be there, continuing to fight for the health and safety of the Midwest.

Thank you for your engagement and support,

Jeff Hammons
Staff Attorney
Environmental Law & Policy Center

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