EPA Violations to Avoid

Although the creation and protection of national parks has been a federal priority since the days of Teddy Roosevelt, a formal regulating body that could guard the environment from the negative effects of industrial and urban expansion didn’t come around until President Nixon’s administration.This office, known officially as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creates agriculture regulations and other safety rules that protect critical aspects of Al merica’s landscapes like the cleanliness of the groundwater, the preservation of animal communities, and the quality of the breathable air.Businesses that fail to follow these laws can create severe problems for themselves. Here are some common categories of EPA violations that can really ruin a company’s day.

Safety Rules Regarding Waste Management

The collection and disposal of waste is a task that the U.S. Government takes very seriously. For companies like Savage that operate in the industrial sector and take charge of the transportation, refinement, and storage of hazardous and non-hazardous materials, these agricultural regulations are important to know and to follow.

• Each type of hazardous waste, from lead-based paints and asbestos to used oil and other chemicals, must undergo strict compliance monitoring.
• Waste must be properly identified and transported in secure containers.
• All personnel transporting the waste must have an EPA identification number and be properly trained on the actions to be taken in the event of hazardous spills or discharges.
• All waste is accurately manifested and reported with both the exporting and importing countries.

EPA violations regarding the illegal transportation and disposal of pollutants can have far-reaching ecological effects, which in turn can affect other agricultural regulations.

Environmental Protection and Agricultural Regulations

It is understandable that with regards to industrial and/or construction companies, failing to meet the safety rules set by the EPA can have severe consequences for their future business. Not only would clients want to distance themselves from a man-made emergency, but the government could issue large fines and sanctions.Common EPA violations of this type include:

• The discharge of pollutants into wetlands and drinking water
• Failure to institute EPA-approved technology to reduce toxic emissions
• Illegally importing uncertified vehicles or gasoline-powered equipment
• Improperly handling or disposing of animal waste and remains

Safety rules like these are designed both to keep crucial infrastructure and habitats preserved and to train companies to consider the broader impact of their actions. Ideally, as businesses strive to comply with the EPA’s environmental regulations, they will take stock of their processes and the state of their equipment, which will lead them to wisely updating to their technology and their operational practices.

The Consequences of EPA Violations

As more safety rules and agricultural regulations get added or amended within the law, greater demands are placed on enforcing them and, consequently, prosecuting criminal activity. To help with that, the EPA utilizes its own investigative body called the Office of Criminal Enforcement Forensics & Training.The consequences for EPA violations will vary based on the laws broken and the severity of the action, but corrective action may include:

• A monetary penalty
• A requirement to remediate the spill or crisis
• Restitution to victims of the disaster (e.g. paying for medical tests or property damage)
• Incarceration

Many of these actions are described by the EPA as “non-judicial enforcement,” meaning that they do not require a judicial court to process and punish illegal activity, but are empowered under their own authority. It is better, then, to simply know and follow the safety rules as they are written.

Making a Difference

By avoiding these EPA violations, companies and individuals can have a positive impact on the environment. In this way, we call see the words of President Lyndon Johnson realized: “We must not only protect the countryside and save it from destruction, we must restore what has been destroyed and salvage the beauty and charm of our cities.”