What enforcement powers do environmental regulators have in connection with the violation of permits?
The EPA can serve non-compliance notices requiring licensees to comply with their licence and if these do not achieve the desired result, statutory enforcement remedies will be invoked. The EPA is empowered to revoke or suspend a licence if the licensee is considered not to be a fit and proper person and if the EPA considers that the reasons for this are serious enough to justify revocation or suspension of the licence. Civil and criminal liability can be imposed for breaches of environmental law. Offences are punishable by the imposition of fines and/or imprisonment which can be up to EUR 15,000,000 or 10 years’ imprisonment. The local authority or the EPA may bring charges for breaches of licences or provisions of environmental legislation. The level of fines will be dependent upon the seriousness of the offence (charges of a less serious nature are usually brought in summary proceedings). Provision is also made in environmental legislation for imprisonment of directors and officers
