The impact that the Trump administration will have on the various governmental agencies is not yet known. However, the Trump administration will likely reduce the reach of the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and its regulations based on the promises made and actions undertaken to date.
An article in BNA Environment Reporter indicates that the number of environmental criminal cases and inspections for 2016 declined when compared to the number of similar cases brought by EPA in 2015, even prior to the implementation of any actions by the current administration. [48 Env. Rep. (BNA) No. 1 at 36 (1/6/17)]. Of note is that environmental crimes ranked the highest of the organizational offenses reported in 2015, and accounted for approximately 1/3 of the cases of record with the U.S. Sentencing Commission. [The Indiana Lawyer, “Environmental crime most common among organizational offenders” http://www.theindianalawyer.com/article/print?articleId=42353 (last visited 12/23/16).]
Even though EPA’s enforcement of environmental crimes may be retracting, greater attention is needed to environmental compliance within organizations considering that environmental crimes are statistically the most common organizational offense.
KDDK can assist with drafting environmental policies, and counseling clients on interpretation and compliance with federal, state and local environmental statutes and regulations. KDDK also offers legal services to assist with other organizational compliance efforts including record-keeping services, filing of reports and assistance with environmental enforcement matters and dispute resolution. Please contact environmental attorney Monica Edwards at medwards@KDDK.com or (812) 423-3183, or contact any member of the KDDK Environmental Law Practice Team for assistance with your environmental legal needs.
About the Author
Monica E. Edwards, a Partner at Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP, in Evansville, Indiana, is a member of the KDDK business, environmental, intellectual property, and real estate law practice teams. Monica’s intellectual property experience includes the registration, assignment and renewal of trademarks and copyrights. She is also frequently involved with the licensing and defense of intellectual property and the negotiation of confidentiality agreements on clients’ behalf.
Monica draws upon her scientific experience as a technical services chemist and prior environmental consultant in her practice of environmental law. Her background helps her assist clients in performing environmental due diligence, negotiating environmental settlement agreements, coordinating site clean-ups, prosecuting historical environmental insurance claims, and recovering environmental defense and indemnity costs.
