November 4, 2004

What’s Next for Environmental Law Enforcement?

With the national elections just concluded, a panel of former US EPA Assistant Administrators for Enforcement convened on November 4 in Washington, DC to give their perspectives on the current state of environmental law enforcement. They took stock, identified trends, and, from their individual perspectives, suggested the directions that enforcement will – or should – be headed in the next few years. Among the topics the panel addressed were the balance between compliance assistance and regulatory enforcement measures, the proper use of criminal sanctions, and the relationship of federal enforcement with the states and local authorities.

Stanley Legro (Piper Rudnick LLP) who served as EPA Assistant Administrator from 1975 to 1977 moderated the panel. Other panel members were Steven Herman (Beveridge & Diamond PC), who served from 1993 to 2001; Raymond Ludwiszewski (Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP) who served in 1991; and James Strock (James Strock & Company), the Assistant Administrator from 1989 to 1991.