Kentucky environmental attorney Sanders says U.S. EPA proposes $600 million budget for criminal and civil environmental enforcement for FY 2010!!

U.S. EPA’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposes the largest enforcement and compliance budget in history -- $600 million, an increase of $32 million from last year. The $600 million enforcement budget reflects the President’s strong commitment to enforcing of the federal environmental laws and ensures that EPA has the resources necessary to maintain a robust and effective criminal and civil enforcement program.

Specifically, the request includes an increase of nearly 30 additional positions primarily for civil and criminal enforcement. In addition, EPA will enhance efforts to integrate environmental justice considerations in EPA’s programs and policies as well as fulfill environmental requirements with respect to other federal agencies’ projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

According to EPA’s Administrator, investing in the agency’s enforcement program yields tangible pollution reductions and fundamental behavioral change in the regulated community.