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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 9 February 2019

EPA enforcement

drops sharply in

Trump’s 2nd year

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER 40 in 2017 and 125 in 2016,
Associated Press the last year of the Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — Civil administration.
and criminal crackdowns Criminal fines and restitu-
on polluters dropped tion tumbled, from $207
sharply in the second year million in 2016, $3 billion in
of the Trump administra- 2017 — including a $2.8 bil-
tion, according to 2018 en- lion fine against Volkswa-
forcement figures released gen over emissions-rigging,
Friday by the Environmen- a case initiated under the
tal Protection Agency. Obama administration —
The Trump administration to $86 million last year.
EPA says the agency is tak- Federal environmental
ing a new tack with pollut- regulators opened 129
ers, giving states more of criminal cases in 2018.
In this July 29, 2015 file photo, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., standing with a role in regulation and That was down from 170
former Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., holds up the gavel Dingell used 50 years ago when Medicare enforcement and stressing under the last year of the
legislation was passed during an event marking the 50th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid education and voluntary Obama administration, al-
on Capitol Hill in Washington. compliance with offend- though up slightly from 115
Associated Press ers as well as fines and criminal cases opened the
Dingell’s farewell message to criminal prosecution. first year under Trump.
overall
show
“In fiscal year 2018, we Numbers
America includes dig at Trump continued our focus on criminal and civil enforce-
expediting site cleanup, ment to protect the envi-
deterring noncompliance, ronment and public health
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — flags at the White House or as perfectly as hoped. and returning facilities to on a general downward
On the day of his death, and other federal facilities The work is certainly not compliance with the law,” trend for many years, but
longtime Rep. John Dingell lowered to half-staff in Din- finished. But we’ve made Susan Bodine, acting head the decline has sharp-
dictated a farewell mes- gell’s memory. The presi- progress — and in every of EPA enforcement, said ened under the Trump ad-
sage to America and used dent also used Twitter to case, from the passage of in a statement. ministration. That includes
some of his final words to extend sympathies to Deb- Medicare through the pas- The EPA has been one of a 30-year low in referrals
criticize President Donald bie Dingell and other family sage of civil rights, we did it the most active agen- for criminal prosecution in
Trump. members. “Longest serving with the support of Demo- cies overall in carrying out 2018.
Dingell dictated the mes- Congressman in country’s crats and Republicans who the deregulatory goals of Civil penalties last year
sage to his wife and con- history which, if people un- considered themselves first President Donald Trump. were the lowest since the
gressional successor Deb- derstand politics, means and foremost to be Ameri- Environmental and pub- EPA’s enforcement office
bie Dingell Thursday in their he was very smart,” Trump cans.” lic-health groups say the was created in 1994, said
suburban Detroit home. tweeted. “A great reputa- He concluded by saying business-friendly rollbacks Cynthia Giles, assistant ad-
The Washington Post pub- tion and highly respected “as I prepare to leave this place public health and ministrator of that office
lished the opinion piece on man.” all behind, I now leave the environment at great- through the Obama ad-
Friday. Dingell’s opinion article was you in control of the great- er risk. ministration.
“One of the advantages similar to a letter penned by est nation of mankind and Jeff Ruch of Public Em- “Not only are the Trump
to knowing that your de- former Arizona Sen. John pray God gives you the ployees for Environmen- EPA’s enforcement num-
mise is imminent, and that McCain before his death in wisdom to understand tal Responsibility said the bers at historic lows, they
reports of it will not be August from brain cancer. the responsibility you hold newly released 2018 to- are on track to get worse,”
greatly exaggerated, is In McCain’s letter, the in your hands. May God tals show environmental Giles said.
that you have a few mo- late Arizona Republican bless you all, and may God enforcement “entering a EPA civil investigations and
ments to compose some appeared to repudiate bless America.” Trump’s near dark age.” evaluations — precursors
parting thoughts,” Dingell Trump’s politics one last proclamation applies to Declines include civil in- to possible tougher en-
said Thursday. “In our mod- time, saying, “We weaken flags at the White House, vestigations carried out forcement action — fell
ern political age, the presi- our greatness when we other public buildings and by the agency, which fell from 13,500 in 2016, 11,750
dential bully pulpit seems confuse our patriotism with grounds, U.S. military posts to 22 last year, down from in 2017 to 10,612 last year.q
dedicated to sowing divi- tribal rivalries that have and naval stations, and on
sion and denigrating, often sown resentment and ha- all federal naval vessels.
in the most irrelevant and tred and violence in all the They’ll be lowered until sun-
infantile personal terms, the corners of the globe.” set Saturday.
political opposition.” Much of Dingell’s letter to Flags at U.S. embassies and
Dingell, who died Thursday the Post focused on the other facilities overseas also
at age 92, didn’t mention country and improvements are ordered to half-staff.
Trump by name in the ar- made over the decades Michigan Gov. Gretchen
ticle. to Medicare, the environ- Whitmer also ordered flags
Dingell represented parts ment, the Great Lakes and on state property lowered.
of southeast Michigan for efforts to end racial dis- A public visitation will be
nearly 60 years before retir- crimination. held Monday at Ford Com-
ing in 2014 as the longest- “All of these challenges munity and Performing Arts
serving member of Con- were addressed by Con- Center in Dearborn. A fu-
gress in U.S. history. gress,” Dingell said. “Maybe neral will be held at a local
On Friday, Trump ordered not as fast as we wanted, church Tuesday.q