Abstract |
As it enters the 21st Century, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) continues to foster and refine its balanced approach to environmental protection. This balanced approach, which has become the hallmark of environmental protection across the world, combines enforcement with compliance assurance activities to protect all Americans from the threats to our health and environment. In Fiscal Year (FY) 1997, OECA continued aggressively addressing environmental degradation by successfully combining its three primary tools: Enforcement actions; Compliance incentives; Compliance assistance. This accomplishments report documents the achievements of the past Fiscal Year in these three areas. These programs and policies work in concert to bring measurable results to the American people-cleaner and healthier air, water, and land. |