Diana DeGette

The total number of civil cases it initiated is the lowest since 1982.

The total number of facilities that the EPA inspected last year is the lowest since 1994.

The EPA assessed polluters a total of $69 million in civil penalties -- $69 million. That is the lowest level of penalties assessed to polluters since the EPA created the Office of Enforcement over 20 years ago in 1994.

The investigation was initiated during the Obama administration.

They can't do it in a vacuum.

How many investigators is the EPA required to have under the law?

We haven't gotten any of the information.

We expect that in a timely fashion. I am sure you can do that.

Let there be no doubt that, this committee will continue to hold the Trump administration accountable.

There is no requirement.

I continue to be worried that the 2019 numbers will reflect civil penalties against a large variety of polluters.

But it was initiated under the Obama administration.

The $69 million in civil penalties represents the lowest in nearly a quarter-century.

I also understand the inspections, which are key to EPA's enforcement efforts, are the lowest they have been in a decade.

The average annual cost of injunctive relief is $7.74 billion and the EPA's fiscal year 2018 figure was the lowest it had been in 15 years.

I appreciate that you sent a memo to your staff saying that we are going to robustly enforce the laws.

We expect the EPA to do its job.

The number of cases it referred to the Department of Justice, the lowest since 1976.

The total number of civil cases it initiated is the lowest since 1982.

The total number of facilities that the EPA inspected last year is the lowest since 1994.

The lowest level of penalties assessed to polluters since the EPA created the Office of Enforcement over 20 years ago in 1994.

When EPA enforcement activities go down, pollution goes up. That is just a fact.

I see an Agency that is giving polluters a free pass, and it is putting our health and our environment at risk.

We have a responsibility to care for them, as we do every single person who calls America home.

If the EPA isn't enforcing the laws that we already have on the books, then we all pay the price.