FY 1990 was another record year for enforcement, continuing the trend of the last three years. All-time highs were set for the number of civil (375) and criminal (65) referrals, as well as for the total level of assessed penalties. The foremost example of this record activity is the $15 million civil penalty assessed in the Texas Eastern Piwlinecase, the single largest penalty assessment in the Agency's history. But good 'numbers' are not the only reason that FY 1990 was a watershed year for the Agency's enforcement program. It also was the year the Agency defined and took the first steps to implement a new approach in environmental enforcement by the federal, state and local governments. This approach is the result of two separate, interrelated, EPA FY 1990 initiatives: the Enforcement Four-Year Strategic Plan and the Enforcement in the 1990s Project. The former is a comprehensive statement of the major goals and objectives of futureoriented enforcement program which will drive the Agency's enforcement efforts. The latter is a set of analyses of, and specific recommendations to improve, six components of the enforcement process which will be integrated into the Agency's long-term planning process. Together, the Strategic Plan and the 1990s Project represent the Agency's blueprint for a successful enforcement program for the future.