The following is an excerpt from the Forward, written by Managing Member, Fred Burnside, for EPA Compliance and Enforcement Answer Book 2013.
“Environmental regulation and enforcement over the past thirty years has evolved from a barely significant effort undertaken primarily by a few federal agencies into a vast nationwide network of federal and state agencies. In the early years, most violations were not addressed. Drums of hazardous waste were abandoned, there were discharges of dangerous pollutants directly into waters, and harmful pesticides were routinely applied with little regard to their effects on human health and our ecosystem. The federal enforcement docket was primarily composed of straightforward and often significantly harmful matters. In the ensuing years, enforcement actions have become more effective, with increased government resources directed towards compliance and enforcement, the use of improved investigative techniques, and an enhanced public awareness and interest in protecting the environment.” Read More