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HR 4218 104th Congress House

Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act of 1996

Official title: To increase penalties and strengthen enforcement of environmental crimes, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 26, 1996 Introduced by: Schumer, Charles E. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Air pollution controlAir qualityAssaultBridges
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Business recordsCommerceCommunity organizationCompensation for victims of crimeConspiracyCrime and Law EnforcementCriminal investigationDestruction of propertyDocksEmergency ManagementEmployee trainingEnergyEnergy policyEnvironmental law enforcementExcavation
This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 22, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials, and in addition to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Sep 26, 1996
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 26, 1996
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 22, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials, and in addition to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act of 1996 - Provides that, upon motion of the United States, any person found guilty of a criminal violation of specified Federal environmental laws, or conspiracy to violate such laws, may be ordered to pay the costs incurred by a State, local, or tribal government or an agency thereof for assistance to the Federal Government's investigation and criminal prosecution of the case, with the payments used solely for environmental law enforcement.

Imposes penalties upon individuals and organizations that commit a criminal violation of listed Federal environmental laws which causes "serious bodily injury" to or the death of any other person, including a Federal, State, local, or tribal government employee performing official duties as a result of the violation.

Environmental Crimes Training Act of 1996 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish within EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance a State, Local, and Tribal Enforcement Training Program to train State, local, and tribal law enforcement personnel in the investigation of environmental crimes.

Sets a five-year statute of limitations (longer in cases of concealment of the offense by an affirmative act) for violation of, or a conspiracy to violate, specified Federal environmental laws.

Amends various Federal environmental laws to cover attempts to engage in proscribed conduct.

Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the court to order restitution for listed Federal environmental crimes, including, in the case of an offense resulting in pollution of or damage to the environment, payment for removal and remediation of the pollution or damage and restoration of the environment. Defines "victim" of the offense in such cases to include a community or communities, whether or not the members are individually identified.

Authorizes the court to issue prejudgment orders to prevent alienation or disposal of assets needed to remedy environmental harms caused by environmental crimes.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4218: Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-4218/
MLA
"H.R. 4218: Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-4218/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4218, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-4218/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4218: Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-4218/)
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