Opinion ID: 78150
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Enforcement Mechanisms

Text: Congress has empowered the EPA with a variety of enforcement mechanisms. In most cases, the enforcement process is initiated with an EPA-issued violation notice. See 42 U.S.C. § 7413. Section 7413 of the Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to issue a violation notice: Whenever, on the basis of any information available to the Administrator, the Administrator finds that any person has violated or is in violation of any requirement or prohibition of an applicable implementation plan or permit, the Administrator shall notify the person and the State in which the plan applies of such finding. Id. § 7413(a)(1). Thirty days after the issuance of a violation notice, the statute authorizes the EPA to bring a civil action seeking injunctive relief and the imposition of civil fines. Id. § 7413(a)(1)(c), (b). The statute also includes other enforcement mechanisms such as issuing an administrative penalty order or an order requiring compliance. See id. § 7413(a)(1)(A)-(B). But see Tenn. Valley Auth. v. Whitman, 336 F.3d 1236, 1258 (11th Cir.2003) (holding provision authorizing EPA to issue administrative order of compliance violates due process to the extent noncompliance results in the imposition of severe civil and criminal penalties without providing any procedures for judicial review).