SPOKANE, Wash. — The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington announced the creation of a new Environmental Task Force aimed at protecting public health and safety.
According to the attorney’s office, the new task force will specifically ensure protection from environmental and health hazards, and combating criminal conspiracies that seek to profit from pollution.
“Strong and fair enforcement of environmental and public health laws supports thriving communities for all families,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “Environmental and financial crimes are often linked, with individuals and businesses attempting to profit by evading laws designed to protect our air, water, and land. Our Environmental Task Force brings key stakeholders together to focus on enforcement that matters most to our community.”
The U.S. Attorney’s office said it has been working with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to launch the new Environmental Task Force. The Task Force leverages partnerships between local, state, and federal agencies to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes that impact public health and safety. Members of the Task Force include representatives from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office Environmental Protection Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division, and other agencies.
“I am grateful for the numerous federal, state, and local partners that have joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the critical mission of securing public health and environmental protection for all communities,” Waldref added. “Working together, we can protect our natural resources, ensure a healthy quality of life, and make our region safe and strong.”
You can watch the full presser here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMI1N2RIvqY
