The EPA started and concluded fewer civil enforcement cases in 2019 than in any other year over the past decade, new statistics show. But data released Thursday show slight increases in other enforcement metrics for the past year.
According to the annual statistics, the Environmental Protection Agency initiated about 1,600 civil cases in fiscal 2019 and concluded roughly the same number. That’s a small decline from 2018 and marks the third consecutive drop for both metrics since 2016. The number of cases initiated and concluded have dropped dramatically since 2009’s high of more than 3,500 cases.
EPA inspections also ...