The Biden administration has made precedent-setting arrests related to anti-climate change activity this year, highlighted in a new report showing increased enforcement against environmental crimes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday released its final report on enforcement efforts under President Biden, detailing the progress of climate-related fine enforcement this fiscal year.
The EPA worked to implement the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM), which requires the agency to reduce hydrofluorocarbons, synthetic compounds commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning, by 85% by 2036.
The AIM Act led to the arrest in March of San Diego resident Michael Hart on charges related to the “potent greenhouse gas smuggling” highlighted in the EPA report. The charges are the first greenhouse gas-related arrests issued under the AIM Act, but “they will not be the last,” according to an EPA press release earlier this year.
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An Environmental Protection Agency sign on a building in Washington, D.C., July 12, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto)
Additionally, EPA reported that it had issued $1.7 billion in administrative and judicial fines, the highest level since 2017.
The agency's environmental enforcement efforts resulted in 1,851 civil cases, 121 criminal defendants, and more than 225 million pounds of “pollution reductions” to “overburdened areas,” according to the report. It is said that he carried out As of the end of 2024, there were approximately 480 open criminal investigations related to environmental programs.
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The results reflect a 3.4% increase in civil cases and a 17.6% increase in criminal charges compared to 2023, the Associated Press reported.
In its fiscal year 2024 report, EPA also found that collaborative efforts on “implementing EPA's national priorities” resulted in a “12% increase in criminal leads opened by referrals from EPA headquarters and regional offices.” He pointed out that it was connected.
President Biden speaks about the results of the 2024 election in the Rose Garden in Washington, DC on November 7, 2024 (Andrew Harnik)
“For fiscal year 2024, EPA's Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Program will be the strongest since 2017, focused on efforts to combat climate change and address some of the nation's most significant environmental threats to our shared air, water, and lands. It paid off,” said David M. Ullman. EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Deputy Administrator said in a statement. “Progress under the Biden-Harris Administration sends a clear signal that polluters will be held accountable and protecting communities from harm is a top priority.”
The agency focused on six priority areas for fiscal year 2024 as part of the National Law Enforcement and Compliance Initiative: climate change mitigation, PFAS exposure, addressing communities from coal ash pollution, and overwork. Reducing local air toxicity, increasing compliance with drinking water standards and reducing the risk of chemical accidents.
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Biden has made issuing green energy projects a focus of his administration, recently pledging billions of dollars to fund climate-related projects in the remaining months of his term before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. I am doing it.
