|
We would like to hear from you. Does this report give you the information on Connecticut's environment that you need? Is there something missing? Mail: Phone: Fax: E-mail: |
Indicators: Leading Environmental Indicators*In Full Compliance
As usual, inspectors found about 90% of facilities in compliance with pertinent regulations. Inspections increased slightly again in 2007 after declining by more 50% from 1997 to 2005 (not shown).
This indicator shows the approximate percentage of inspections performed by the DEP that found the inspected facilities in full compliance with pertinent environmental laws and regulations. (Monitoring data self-reported by permit holders are not included.) The sharp downturn in 2002 was due to a large number of minor violations in one air quality program (Stage Two Vapor Recovery at gas stations). Short-term downturns might not reflect serious problems if the long-term trend is toward full compliance. Overall, compliance rates rarely have been better than 90%. The number of inspections conducted by the DEP has declined every year since 1997 with the exception of 2004, 2006 and 2007. The relationship between the number of inspections and rate of compliance is not clear. The number of inspections and the overall compliance rate rose slightly in 2006. Inspections increased again in 2007 but the compliance rate held steady. The stability of the compliance rate in the face of ever-diminishing staff resources might be regarded as a success for the DEP. However, some industrial sectors require fewer inspections than they did a decade ago because the number of active facilities has declined. Regardless of the relationship of compliance to inspections, the failure of the state to advance affirmatively toward the goal of full compliance is apparent.
| |
| ©2007 State of Connecticut. All Rights Reserved | ||
