Polluters Seeing Historically Low Fines Under Trump's EPA

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s online Enforcement and Compliance History database, civil penalties for pollution violations have fallen to their lowest average since 1994 under President Donald Trump’s administration. The Washington Post reports that in the 20 years before Trump took office, the agency’s civil fines averaged more than $500 million annually when adjusted for inflation. The total was $72 million in 2018, marking an 85 percent reduction. The Trump administration explains the reduction in fines as part of a new effort to work with entities before the violations occur. Meanwhile, EPA’s acting administrator, Andrew Wheeler, says the