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Compliance Incentives & Auditing |  |
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Compliance IncentivesEPA promotes compliance through the use of compliance
incentives -- policies and programs that eliminate, reduce
or waive penalties under certain conditions for business,
industry, and government facilities which voluntarily discover,
promptly disclose, and expeditiously correct environmental
problems. Information about these incentives, self-disclosure
programs, related tools such as environmental audit protocols,
Environmental Management Systems, Pollution Prevention, and
the environmental benefits achieved by such programs are located
here. Compliance Incentives Programs -- In connection with the Audit Policy, EPA has established, and continues to establish, programs for promoting environmental compliance and the correction of violations by offering incentives provided to the regulated community in exchange for agreements to perform self-assessment, disclosure, and the correction of violations. These incentives may involve reduced penalties for violations, extended time for correction, reduced inspections, and/or other considerations. For more information, see the Compliance Incentives web pages, which make available information on some of the more important compliance incentive programs and projects. Market-Based Incentives -- EPA supports the use of market-based incentives for improved environmental performance and the prevention of environmental non-compliance. Information about EPA's collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is located here. EPA encourages the disclosure of environmental information in accordance with the mandatory corporate disclosure requirements promulgated by the SEC. EPA's Audit Policy -- The Audit Policy, "Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Correction and Prevention of Violations", 65 FR 19,618 (April 11, 2000), as the name indicates, provides incentives for the regulated community to come into compliance with federal environmental laws and regulations through self-assessment, disclosure, and correction of violations. More complete information is available in the Audit Policy Web Pages. Compliance Auditing Protocols -- The Compliance Auditing Protocol are tools for use by the regulated community and others in developing programs for individual facilities to evaluate their compliance with environmental requirements under the federal environmental laws and regulations.
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