New Environment Enforcement Boss Expected to Get Tough on Equity

Companies that flout environmental laws can expect tighter scrutiny now that David Uhlmann has finally been confirmed to become the EPA’s chief enforcer, legal analysts predict.

No sharp crackdown is expected, but as a Senate-confirmed official, Uhlmann now has the imprimatur and authority to flex his muscles in ways his predecessors—who only served in acting capacities—couldn’t.

One of the areas where Uhlmann is most likely to act decisively is environmental justice, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond.

That issue is not only a long-standing concern for Uhlmann—who led off his 2021 confirmation hearing by describing ...