Federal Agencies Create Guidelines for Joint Environmental Litigation

Lynn Schenkman

Washington, D.C. – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has released guidelines for joint state and federal civil environmental enforcement litigation. The guidelines are intended to advance the DOJ’s priorities for promoting cooperation in environmental enforcement cases. In fiscal year 2001 and 2002, the DOJ’s enforcement division secured more than $7.9 billion toward cleanup and compliance. The guidelines were devised in cooperation with the National Association of Attorneys General, Washington, D.C., and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, D.C., Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.