The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering incentives to new owners who correct environmental violations at recently acquired, regulated facilities. Under the interim policy, new owners might receive lower penalties than long-time owners.
“This is an opportunity for new owners to make a clean start by correcting environmental problems that began under the previous owner’s watch,” says Granta Y. Nakayama, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
Under the EPA’s current audit policy, the agency offers reduced penalties to companies that self-audit their facilities, promptly disclose and correct violations discovered, and take steps to prevent future violations
Under the new interim policy, a new owner who acquires a facility might get additional penalty reductions from disclosing an even greater range of violations.
The EPA encourages companies with newly acquired facilities to examine the compliance of these facilities, correct environmental problems that began before acquisition, make changes to ensure they stay in compliance, and reduce pollutants.
Since 1995, more than 3,500 companies at nearly 10,000 facilities have used the audit policy to disclose and resolve violations, most of which involved recordkeeping and reporting. With the new incentives, EPA hopes to encourage new owners to disclose violations that, once corrected, will yield significant environmental benefits and direct pollution reductions.
The new interim policy takes effect immediately, and EPA will accept public comment until Oct. 30, 2008. The policy might change in light of these comments.
