EPA enforcement actions in FY 2005 resulted in legal commitments from companies, governments and other regulated entities to reduce a projected 1.1 billion pounds of pollution and require that they spend a record $10 billion to come into compliance with environmental laws. This is an increase of $5 billion over last year. The EPA's criminal enforcement program helped to successfully prosecute some of the largest environmental crimes in history in FY 2005, with judges imposing significant sentences and large criminal fines. Most annual measures of the agency's enforcement and compliance activity surpassed or kept pace with previous years, indicating continued progress in deterring environmental law violations.

“EPA's enforcement strategy and accomplishments demonstrate our commitment to achieving cleaner air, cleaner water and healthier communities,” said Granta Y. Nakayama, the agency's assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. “Our enforcement statistics show significant progress in criminal enforcement and securing compliance and environmental benefits.”

Among the environmental benefits resulting from agency actions during FY 2005, the agency estimated that 28.2 million cubic yards of contaminated soil and 1.6 billion cubic yards of contaminated water will be cleaned up, 1,900 acres of wetlands will be protected, and drinking water of more than 8 million Americans be safer. Criminal defendants will pay $100 million in criminal fines and restitution and serve more than 186 years in jail. The 10 biggest air pollution cases will reduce more than 620 million pounds of pollutants annually resulting in annual human health benefits valued at over $4.6 billion. The benefits include reductions in premature mortality, bronchitis, hospitalizations and work days lost.

Tackling the problems of older municipal water systems that cause overflows of raw sewage into streets, yards, basements and bodies of water was an EPA enforcement priority again this year. Together with states, the agency concluded several major sewer cases in FY 2005, and reduced more than 19 billion gallons of raw sewage overflows since 1998.

More information on EPA's FY 2005 enforcement and compliance program, including details of significant enforcement and compliance assurance activities and data are available at: www.epa.gov/compliance/data/results/annual/fy2005.html.