COVID-19 and environmental enforcement
by Save The Bay’s advocacy team

On March 26, 2020, the Trump administration announced that regulated entities will not be fined for violating laws related to pollution prevention (such as monitoring and reporting discharges of pollutants) if the EPA determines that COVID-19 was the cause.
- How current conditions related to COVID-19 are preventing compliance
- The environmental impacts from noncompliance
- Efforts taken to comply given the challenges
- The length of time needed for relief
- Actions that will be taken to return to full compliance.
Save The Bay applauds DEM’s approach. We also urge full transparency on how the policy is implemented. And, we will keep watchful eye on emerging developments throughout the Narragansett Bay and Little Narragansett Bay watersheds and the South Coast. After all, that is Save The Bay’s role: holding government accountable for protecting the Bay.