Penalties/Treble Damages

This category includes EPA penalty policies under which EPA can seek various types of penalties and damages for non-compliance with an administrative agreement or order, or judicial consent decree.

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2024 Revised Penalty Matrix for CERCLA § 106(b)(1) Civil Penalty Policy - (2/7/24) 2024 updated penalty matrix for the CERCLA Section 106(b)(1) penalty policy. Supplements the 2009 revised penalty matrix. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-penalty-matrix-cercla-section-106b1-civil-penalty-policy (PDF 234K)

Guidance on Evaluating a Violator's Ability to Pay a Civil Penalty in an Administrative Enforcement Action - (6/29/15) Memorandum to regions providing guidance on the process case teams should follow in evaluating ability to pay (ATP) claims and an overview of the Agency's tools to assist in ATP evaluations. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-evaluating-ability-pay-civil-penalty-administrative-enforcement-actions

Revised Penalty Matrix for CERCLA Section 106(b)(1) Civil Penalty Policy - (7/17/09) 2009 updated matrix for the CERCLA section 106(b)(1) penalty policy. Supplements the 4/20/2005 revised penalty matrix. Updated in 2016. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-penalty-matrix-cercla-section-106b1-civil-penalty-policy (PDF 28 K)

Final Enforcement Response Policy for Sections 304, 311, and 312 of EPCRA and Section 103 of CERCLA - (9/30/99) Final Enforcement Response Policy to assist staff in calculating proposed penalties for all civil administrative actions, and for settling actions concerning EPCRA §§ 304, 311 and 312 and CERCLA § 103(a). https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/enforcement-response-policy-epcra-sections-304-311-312-and-cercla-section-103 (PDF 245 K)

Ensuring Potentially Responsible Party Compliance with CERCLA Obligations - (11/3/98) Memorandum sets out steps to ensure compliance by Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) with EPAs active orders and settlement agreements for CERCLA studies, response work, and cost recovery. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-ensuring-prp-compliance-superfund-obligations (PDF 59 K)

Issuance of the Interim Policy on Settlement of CERCLA Section 106(b)(1) Penalty Claims and Section 107(c)(3) Punitive Damages Claims for Noncompliance with Administrative Orders - (9/30/97) Transmittal memorandum and interim policy for settling CERCLA section 106(b)(1) civil penalty and section 107(c)(3) punitive damages claims for noncompliance with administrative orders (AOs). https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/interim-guidance-settling-civil-penalty-and-punitive-damage-claims-noncompliance (PDF 1317 K)

Transmittal of Sample Documents for Compliance Monitoring - (7/1/96) Transmittal memorandum and eleven sample documents to assist the Regions when faced with non-compliance with CERCLA UAOs, AOCs, and CDs, or RCRA documents requiring corrective action. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-superfund-settlements-and-rcra-corrective-action-compliance-monitoring (PDF 671 K)

Administrative Penalty Procedures, Action: Interim Final Rule - (5/6/89) Final Rule establishing procedures for the administrative assessment of civil penalties under CERCLA Section 109 and EPRCA Section 325. Federal Register Notice, Vol. 54, No. 93, OSWER Dir. No., 9841.1a https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-cercla-and-epcra-administrative-penalty-procedures (PDF 438 KB)

Guidance on the Use of Stipulated Penalties in Hazardous Waste Consent Decrees - (9/21/87) This guidance addresses the use of stipulated penalties in civil judicial settlements under CERCLA and RCRA Section 7003. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-use-stipulated-penalties-hazardous-waste-consent-decrees (PDF 511K)

Interim Guidance on Use of Administrative Penalty Provisions of Section 109 of CERCLA and Section 325 of SARA - (7/16/87) Interim Guidance on Use of Administrative Penalty Provisions of Section 109 of CERCLA and Section 325 of SARA, OSWER No. 9841.1 https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-use-superfund-and-epcra-penalty-provisions (PDF 490 KB)

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