ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
                                                                               EJ in New England
                                                     ENFORCEMENT
    Enforcement  &  Compliance
    Assistance  Program
      U.S.  EPA  |  ENVIRONMENTAL  JUSTICE  AT  EPA  NEW  ENGLAND
EPA    NEW    ENGLAND'S    ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE  PROGRAM  works to protect all  people,  regardless
of race, color,  national origin or income, from environmental harms and
risks,  and to involve all citizens  in  making decisions  that affect their
environment.  The program is designed to achieve environmental and public
health  improvements for communities disproportionately burdened by the
impacts of pollution.
INTRO:
EPA New England enforces environmental laws and regulations in order to protect human health and the environment.
By inspecting facilities, sampling, and monitoring, EPA determines if potential polluters are complying with environmental
laws. When EPA discovers violations, it may issue an administrative order with or without civil penalties. The most
significant violations may lead to the filing of a complaint in federal court or, in extreme cases, criminal prosecutions
which result in imprisonment, fines or both. EPA also recognizes the need to help the regulated community. Compliance
assistance helps businesses, industry, institutions, and government follow environmental obligations.
OVERVIEW:
EPA New England's enforcement program targets viola-
tions that pose the most serious risks to the environment
and public health. The agency focuses on areas where the
role of a federal agency is most important. These include
cases where the impacts cross state lines; cases involving
national environmental priorities (such as coal-fired power
plants and sewer  overflows); and cases involving public
entities. Many of these cases are in communities dispro-
portionately burdened by pollution. Maintaining a strong
presence in the field deters violators, which improves
environmental compliance and prevents environmental
threats. Penalizing violators also levels the playing field, so
that companies that comply with the environmental laws
are not at a competitive disadvantage.

EPA New England's close working relationships with state
environmental agencies helps EPA set its environmental
priorities. Coordination  between the  federal and state
governments is critical to achieving an effective enforce-
ment program across the region.

EPA's enforcement program faces complex environmen-
tal problems. New England's office has been a national
leader in developing creative enforcement approaches. For
example, EPA New England has pioneered the use of "inte-
grated strategies"  that combine enforcement, compliance
assistance, environmental auditing, and other programs to
achieve the greatest possible improvement in environmen-
tal performance.

Compliance assistance  helps  the regulated  community
(business, industry, government, etc.)  understand and
meet its environmental obligations. Assistance can also
help the regulated community find cost-effective ways to
go "beyond  compliance" or reduce its regulatory burden
by preventing pollution, better managing its environmental
systems, or using new environmental technologies.

EPA works with state and local governments, trade associa-
tions and non-profit organizations to develop and provide
assistance activities  and tools. EPA  New England offers
workshops, on-site visits, and training manuals. Assistance
may be specific to a certain regulatory requirement (e.g.
stormwater management; limits to diesel idling; compliance
with new Renovation, Repair and  Painting rule) or program
(e.g., Smart Way, Resource Conservation Challenge), or it
may address the issues of a particular sector: auto body,
healthcare, solid waste, wastewater collection systems.

To report a violation, visit the following websites: www.epa.
gov/compliance/complaints/index.html (environmental viola-
tions), www.epa.gov/region 1/enforcemen1/ leadpainl/ report-
violations.html (lead paint violations), www.epa.gov/region1/
enforcement/wetlands/wetlandsfbrm.html (wetlands  viola-
tions), or call 8004248802 for oil or chemical spills.
KEY CONTACTS:


SAM SILVERMAN
EPA New England
Deputy Director, Office of
Environmental Stewardship
(617)918-1731
silverman.samuel@epa.gov


GENERAL INFO:


EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Square
Suite 100
Boston,  MA 02109-3912
(617) 918-1111
www.epa.gov/region 1/

TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER  SERVICE
1-888-EPA7341

LEARN  MORE AT:
www.epa.gov/region 1/
enforcement
               United States
               Environmental Protection
               Agency
   rinted on 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste, using vegetable-based inks
                                                              EPA-901-F-11-007
                                                                    April 2011

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