|
In the spring of 2007, the Maryland Department of the Environment set a goal to establish a consistent baseline of enforcement to protect the environment and ensure public health. Since then, the number of enforcement actions taken by the agency has risen annually -- culminating in a record number of actions in the most recent year.
Enforcement actions are important not only to protect health and the environment but also to ensure a level playing field for Maryland businesses. The vast majority of regulated entities are in compliance. When an entity does not comply, that entity may gain an unfair economic advantage over its competitors.
In thanking and congratulating MDE staff, Secretary Shari T. Wilson described the gains made since the start of the initiative as an “unprecedented achievement” -- all the more remarkable given resource limitations and recent budget constraints.
“Inspections and enforcement is a challenging job every day for a whole host of reasons,” Secretary Wilson told the staff. “While our system is not perfect, and we have more improvements to make, what you have accomplished over the past several years speaks volumes to your talents, commitment and in-the-field expertise.”
The more than 3,000 enforcement actions taken between July 2009 and June 2010 represent an increase of more than 50 percent department-wide since MDE launched its enforcement initiative.
While a review of the data shows that a significant portion of that increase can be attributed to a rise in the number of radiation safety enforcement actions, the increase across the rest of the department is still 21 percent. MDE data also shows a 52 percent increase in water pollution enforcement actions from Fiscal Year 2007 to Fiscal Year 2010.
MDE’s initiative to prioritize resources to enhance enforcement included a review of ongoing enforcement actions to determine timeliness, development of a department-wide internal operating procedure, and the use of the “MDEStat” management process.
Click here for MDE’s Annual Enforcement and Compliance Report for FY2010 or here for previous annual enforcement reports and the latest information on enforcement actions and other compliance activities.
|
