The State of Environmental Crime Enforcement: A Survey of Developments in 2008

This article provides an overview of key developments relevant to the criminal enforcement of environmental laws. It notes that the leadership of the environmental criminal program at the Environmental Protection Agency has and will continue to be overseen by career enforcement personnel. Similarly, the criminal program at the Department of Justice has been in the hands of independent and experienced career prosecutors who have continued to bring many of the same kinds of cases that had been prosecuted during previous administrations. Other developments include climate change issues, criminal sanctions for failing to meet security requirements, pollution related to ships, and the expanding law of obstruction of justice. The article also provides summaries of 75 criminal cases brought around the country last year.