Water & Environmental Justice

Key Findings

276,618 EPA-regulated facilities tracked across 3,120 counties

2,003,345 total violations documented, including 290,936 health-based violations

$2.8B in total EPA penalties assessed

3,094 facilities classified as serious violators by the EPA

Communities of color face 6.7x the penalty disparity ratio compared to predominantly white communities

Low-income communities face 13.4x the health violation rate compared to higher-income areas

The EPA regulates 276,618 facilities across 3,120 counties under the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and related statutes. This investigation cross-references EPA enforcement data (ECHO), demographic data (Census ACS), and political spending records to map the overlap between environmental enforcement gaps, demographic vulnerability, and political influence.

Enforcement Gaps

EPA penalty and enforcement data reveals systematic variation in how environmental violations are addressed. Total penalties assessed: $2.8B. The analysis identifies counties where enforcement intensity (penalties per violation) falls below the national median despite above-average violation rates.

Demographic Disparities

Census demographic data overlaid on EPA facility and violation records documents environmental justice disparities:

Communities of color face a 6.7x penalty disparity ratio — meaning enforcement intensity is lower in communities with higher proportions of people of color
Low-income communities face 13.4x the health violation rate compared to higher-income areas

Polluter Political Spending

Cross-referencing major violators against FEC campaign finance records and Senate lobbying disclosures maps the political spending of companies with the worst environmental records.

Downloads

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