EPA's List of Environmental Fugitives

The Environmental Protection Agency has vindicated Edward Abbey's environmental vigilantes, The Monkeywrench Gang's George Hayduke and Bella Abzug. In an effort to stem environmental terrorism, egregious acts against and damaging to the environment, the EPA has released a list of the twenty-three most heinous offenders and the EPA is looking for your help to find them. The EPA Fugitive Most Wanted List

"Putting this information on the EPA's Web site will increase the number of 'eyes' looking for environmental fugitives," said Granta Y. Nakayama, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Two EPA fugitives were captured this year, and this Web site could help us find more fugitives in the future."

The website will include vital facts about the Environmental Fugitive such as their last known location, their assumed violations, and a mug shot to help environmental crime stoppers positively identify them. The list of suspected crimes include illegal smuggling of Ozone depleting chemicals into the United States, money laundering, discharging pollutants into the air or water, and illegally disposing of hazardous wastes.

The Most Wanted list will included the worst of the worst of environmental violators that "are charged with environmental crimes and they should be brought before the criminal justice system and have their day in court," said Pete Rosenberg, a director in the agency's criminal enforcement division, according to the AP .

An environmental crime is any crime against the environment that includes violations against the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

The most wanted list comes at a time when enforcement is at an all time low. Congress authorized the hiring of 200 special EPA field agents to investigate, however, today, as government continues to grow, the EPA only staffs 183 special agents.

The EPA is hoping that the public will help turn in violators and members of the most wanted list. You may report a suspected violation or a Most Wanted Sighting at Environmental Violation Complaint Participants may also report violators to the FBI or to local law enforcement personal.