The EPA has obtained commitments from regulated entities to reduce pollution by nearly 900 million pounds in fiscal year 2006. This would total almost 3 billion pounds and require companies to invest almost $20 billion in pollution control equipment, with over 70 percent of the reductions achieved by addressing high-priority air and water pollution challenges.

According to Gramta Malayama, the EPA’s assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance, as a result of criminal enforcement actions completed this past year, defendants will serve 154 years in jail and pay almost $43 million in fines, as well as another $29 million for environmental projects imposed as part of the sentences.