EPA to offer new round of buyouts, realign environmental law enforcement

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday said that it will offer a new round of buyouts and plans to “re-align” its office that enforces environmental laws.

The announcements come as the agency initiates “Phase 2” of its reorganization plans.

In a press release, the agency said that “changes” to the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, which houses the agency’s environmental enforcement personnel, would be “re-aligning enforcement with the law to deliver economic prosperity” as well as compliance with regulations.

Previously, the administration indicated that it would steer its environmental enforcement away from energy companies. CNN further reported last month that EPA officials in the Midwest have told staff to stop pursuing violations made by fossil fuel firms. 

Separately, the EPA is offering another round of buyouts to employees. Eligible employees include those in the EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Mission Support and Office of Research and Development, the latter of which is the EPA’s science arm.

The latest reorganization also impacts offices beyond the enforcement office. The press release said that “updates” to the Office of Land and Emergency Management, which cleans up contaminated sites, “will better equip the agency to swiftly and efficiently fulfill statutory obligations like preventing contamination, cleaning up and returning land to productive use, and responding to emergencies.”

And the EPA is creating a new Office of Finance and Administration that it said will “create new efficiencies and improve coordination” of things like contracts, grants and “human capital.”

“These structural changes reinforce EPA’s unwavering commitment to fulfill its statutory obligations and uphold fiscal responsibility. By partnering our operations and mission support services, we can deliver results for American communities while remaining good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in a written statement. 

The announcement comes after the EPA announced a previous reorganization phase in May that involved “shifting its scientific expertise and research efforts,” including by transferring 130 experts to the agency’s chemicals office.