State Officials, EPA Butt Heads on Agency’s Take on Compliance

Tensions are still palpable between some Democratic-led states and the Environmental Protection Agency over an agency memo sent last year pushing for a focus on compliance ahead of enforcement when regulated parties violate the law.

“We want to ensure that that clear, unambiguous reading of the law with a focus of achieving compliance early and efficiently and effectively, that really is the main goal here,” EPA Assistant Deputy Administrator Travis Voyles told state officials and others Tuesday at the Environmental Council of the States’ spring conference in Savannah, Ga.

The December memo directed the EPA’s enforcement arm to “prioritize ensuring ...