US Govt, Environmental Crimes, Puerto Rico 2022

Environmental Crimes on the Rise in Puerto Rico

In a move to combat environmental crimes, the US Government has announced a crackdown on violators of environmental laws in Puerto Rico.

The US Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico has designated Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Erbe as the environmental justice coordinator (EJC) to oversee efforts to enforce both civil and criminal environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and hazardous waste laws.

According to the US Government, environmental justice is a principle that combines civil rights with environmental protection by examining whether all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income are receiving fair treatment and meaningful involvement with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

The EJC will coordinate efforts to enforce environmental laws, including pursuing actions under the civil rights laws, worker safety and consumer protection statutes, and the False Claims Act, where appropriate.

The US Government has identified several examples of civil or criminal environmental misconduct, including air emissions of toxic pollutants, oil spills, unpermitted discharges of pollutants, and illegal handling, transportation, and disposal of hazardous wastes and pesticides.

The US Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico will conduct island-wide outreach efforts via the Public Affairs and Community Engagement (PACE) Division to increase communication regarding identified environmental justice concerns, identify impacted communities, assist in engagement with impacted communities, and promote transparency regarding Federal environmental justice enforcement efforts and results.

Residents of Puerto Rico are encouraged to report environmental, public health, and safety concerns to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico using the following contact information.

Defendant Name: US Govt

Criminal Charges: Violations of environmental laws

City and State: Puerto Rico

Exact Date: May 5, 2022

Sentence or Outcome: Ongoing efforts to enforce environmental laws

Dollar Amounts: None specified

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-pr/pr/public-reporting-environmental-justice-concerns