EPA Solicits Comments on 2014-2016 National Enforcement Initiatives

Every three years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") develops (with public input) national enforcement initiatives that serve to "focus civil and criminal enforcement resources and expertise on serious pollution problems affecting communities." On January 28, the EPA published notice in the Federal Register that it was accepting public comment and recommendations for its proposed fiscal year 2014–16 national enforcement initiatives (link here to the notice PDF file).

The 2014-16 proposed national enforcement initiatives largely mirror those developed for the 2011-2013 fiscal years, and, from a water standpoint, include municipal infrastructure - "addressing sewage discharges from combined sewer systems, sanitary sewer systems, and municipal separate storm sewer systems;" and preventing runoff from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (or "CAFOs") from contaminating ground and surface water.

Comments can be submitted through February 27 through this Internet site.