The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) slightly increased its maximum monetary civil penalties for violations of air, water, chemical, and hazardous waste programs in December 2020 to keep pace with inflation. The new maximum penalty amounts shown below will apply to environmental violations that occurred after November 2, 2015 and for penalties assessed on or after December 23, 2020.
A brief of the maximum penalties per day, per violation (in USD) for various programs are as follows:
- Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA) $77,000
- Clean Air Act (CAA) $103,000
- Clean Water Act (CWA) $57,000
- Emergency Planning/Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) $59,000
- Compliance Environmental Response…Act (CERCLA) $59,000
- Safe Drinking Water (SDWA) $59,000
- Toxic Substances Control Act (TSACA) $41,000