The Role of EPA's BEN Model in Establishing Civil Penalties
The federal government and citizen groups are attempting to increase enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. Under the major environmental laws, government agencies and other groups may sue alleged violators for injunctive relief and civil penalties. Several of these laws authorize plaintiffs to recover civil penalties that (1) deprive violators of the economic savings they may have obtained through noncompliance and (2) account for harm to human health and the environment.