Environmental Settlements High on EPA West Coast Chief’s Agenda

The EPA’s administrator for California and other Western states says her office is looking for opportunities to use a settlement tool with companies accused of pollution or other offenses now that the Biden administration has put that tool back in play.

Under a supplemental environmental project, or SEP, a company can volunteer to undertake an environmentally helpful project in exchange for a reduction in its penalties. The Trump administration had prohibited most uses of SEPs, but the Justice Department said in May it would revive them.

“Having that tool back is really wonderful,” said Martha Guzman, who ...