The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on EPA Enforcement Practices
Record date · January 1, 2020
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
This document is a transcript from a 2019 House Subcommittee hearing examining the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) enforcement and compliance strategies. Lawmakers and expert witnesses discussed the effectiveness and trends of the agency's oversight of environmental regulations.
The hearing provides a record of the debate regarding how the EPA monitors and penalizes environmental violations, which directly impacts the regulatory environment for industries and the protection of public health.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Environmental Protection Agency
The agency's enforcement policies and annual results were the subject of congressional review and questioning.
Regulated Industries
Changes in EPA enforcement priorities and strategies directly impact the regulatory oversight these industries face.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on February 26, 2019, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- The primary subject was the EPA's enforcement and compliance assurance program.
- The hearing included testimony from seven witnesses, including EPA officials, academic experts, and environmental policy advocates.
- The subcommittee reviewed the 'Fiscal Year 2018 EPA Enforcement and Compliance Annual Results' report.
Show all 7 facts
- The hearing explored the balance between regulatory enforcement and compliance assistance.
- Witnesses provided perspectives on the historical trends of EPA enforcement actions.
- The transcript includes submitted answers to questions for the record from Susan Parker Bodine and Ronald J. Tenpas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of this hearing?
Who testified at the hearing?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Focus on Enforcement vs. Compliance
The hearing highlights a tension between traditional enforcement (penalties) and compliance assistance (helping entities follow rules) within the EPA's 2018 strategy.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment15Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools