A Sheep in the Closet: The Erosion of Enforcement at the EPA

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Sheep-in-the-Closet.pdf (3.93 MB)

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https://envirodatagov.org/publication/a-sheep-in-the-closet-the-erosion-of-enforcement-at-the-epa/

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http://hdl.handle.net/11603/32406

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UMBC Geography and Environmental Systems Department

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https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4713-6901

Date

2019-05-31

Type of Work

reports
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Program

Citation of Original Publication

Fredrickson, Leif, et al. “A Sheep in the Closet: The Erosion of Enforcement at the EPA.” Environmental Data and Governance Initiative. May 31, 2019. https://envirodatagov.org/publication/a-sheep-in-the-closet-the-erosion-of-enforcement-at-the-epa/.

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Abstract

This report examines environmental enforcement at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) two years into the Trump administration. Based on extensive interviewing with EPA employees and recent retirees as well as in-depth wide-ranging research into EPA data and documents as well as news coverage, we conclude that the EPA is no longer so capable of fulfilling its mission to ensure competent enforcement of federal environmental laws. In place of that “gorilla in the closet” role characterized by its first administrator, William Ruckelshaus, it has become more of a sheep in the closet. The EPA’s retreat, which shows little sign of stopping, has all but ensured significant deterioration of our nation’s public health and environment in the years ahead.