The EPA on Thursday, March 25, released updated data and a mapping tool intended to help the public quickly find information about companies with Clean Water Act violations. Consultants may want to inform their clients about the tool and prepare information to address any surprises or potential questions from local residents.

The Web-based map includes "state dashboards" that provide detailed information for each state, including information on facilities that are violating the Clean Water Act and the actions states are taking to enforce the law and protect people's health. The state dashboards incorporate data for both large and small sources of water pollution, along with the latest information from the agency's 2009 Annual Noncompliance Report. The public can examine and compare information on the inspections conducted by both the federal EPA and the state in their region, violations and enforcement actions in their communities over the past two years and the penalties levied in response to violations.

The map and state dashboard are available at www.epa-echo.gov/echo/ancr/us/

More information on the 2009 Annual Noncompliance report is available at www.epa-echo.gov/echo/ancr/us/docs/ANCR_2009.pdf (pdf)

SOURCE: EPA Press Release