What are the new penalties included in the legislation?
The changes to the law now give the government greater powers to fine those who violate the NWPA. Before the changes, the government could only issue a one-time $5,000 fine. For some proponents, this amount was simply considered the “price of doing business”. They would pay the fine and continue to construct potentially dangerous works in navigable waters. The new legislation imposes fines up to $50,000 per infraction per day – a serious and meaningful deterrent to non-compliance. These stiff new penalties reflect the government’s ongoing concern towards maintaining the safety of public navigation and the environment.
