EPA violations can lead to costly fines and damage to your company’s reputation. Luckily, it’s possible to mitigate the damage by acting fast.

What to Do If You Receive an EPA Violation

If you have recently received an EPA violation, it’s important to act quickly to mitigate the consequences. That’s because these violations can have a serious impact on your business, and acting quickly can dramatically reduce the consequences of the violation in many cases. Hiring an environmental consultant can help you navigate this process, here’s what you need to do as soon as you receive notice of having violated EPA regulations.

What Types of EPA Violations Can Environmental Consulting Help You Avoid?

There are several different types of EPA violations that you are most likely to receive if you have taken actions that cause harm to our environment. While there are numerous potential violations that a business owner could face, these are the most common ones that professionals in this field will help you avoid:

• Emissions Violations: It’s important to ensure that all of your vehicles comply with both local and federal emissions regulations. In general, the fine for vehicle-related violations are likely to be lower than those that pertain to industrial emissions violations.
• Water Pollution Related Violations: If your business has been found to have altered the water of a river, lake, or stream, you could face fines for having improperly disposed of waste. The specific amount that you can expect to pay for water pollution violations varies depending on the severity and type of contamination.
• Improper Disposal Violations: If you improperly dispose of waste, it’s possible that you could be fined by the EPA. Never dump waste anywhere that could lead to harmful chemicals making their way into the water supply. In addition, you could face significant fines and even charges for improperly disposing of waste in a manner that results in pollution in land environments.

How Much Will You Pay in EPA Fines?

While the amount that you’ll pay varies significantly depending on the violation, it’s important to realize that there are two types of fines that the EPA can levy. These are fines that you’ll pay each day that a violation is continued and fines that you’ll only pay once. One-time fines vary depending on the offense and severity, but you cannot pay any more than $295,000 in daily fines outside of special circumstances for Clean Air Act violations.

It is possible to be fined a larger amount, but this will require the EPA to collaborate with the Department of Justice. However, this action will be pursued if you continue to violate the regulations set by this government agency. It’s also important to keep in mind that you’ll pay a fine each day that the violation continues in many cases. The daily fine amount is $37,500 for violating the Clean Air Act.

Are EPA Fines Increasing?

EPA violation fines increase overtime to keep up with inflation. Also, they have been increased to protect our environment from climate change.

What Should You Do If You Face an EPA Fine?

If you find yourself facing an EPA fine due to a violation of their regulations, it’s important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Always ensure that the lawyer you choose is experienced and skilled in environmental law. This is the best way to improve your chances of beating the violation entirely. Otherwise, the total fine amount will keep increasing day by day. Also, it is essential to contact environmental consulting services to get a site assessment,  to ensure that you immediately address the issue that led to the violation. Hiring a professional environmental consulting service is essential to identify risks and possible liabilities, and keep you in compliance with state and federal regulations and guidelines.

The experienced and professional team at Midwest Environmental Consulting Services has been helping businesses for over 26 years. Their firm includes licensed and accredited professionals in engineering, science, safety, industrial hygiene, construction, and geology. They are committed to providing a proactive approach to all environmental management projects, as well as minimizing financial impact while following appropriate local, state, and federal guidelines. Call today for your assessment, they are here for you.