Despite ‘Gaps,’ Lawyers Say OECA Policy Could Boost Criminal Cases

EPA’s new policy to better coordinate criminal and civil enforcement will likely increase criminal prosecutions for environmental violations, industry attorneys say, though some note that regulators must still win approval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring a criminal case while others see “gaps” in the policy that may further limit actions. The policy “is about driving up the number of criminal investigations. I don’t see any meaningful change in the number of civil cases through this policy. ...