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HR 277 105th Congress House Environmental Protection Air pollution control Air quality Assault Bridges Business records Commerce Community organization Compensation for victims of crime Conspiracy Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal investigation Destruction of property Docks Emergency Management Employee training Energy Environmental Protection Agency Environmental law enforcement Excavation

Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act of 1997

Introduced: January 7, 1997 Introduced by: Schumer, Charles E. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 24, 1997
Re-referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Feb 13, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Feb 13, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Feb 11, 1997
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
Feb 11, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Feb 11, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
Feb 11, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.
Feb 6, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
Feb 6, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource Conservation and Research.
Jan 28, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
Jan 22, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials, and in addition to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Resources
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Agriculture
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Jan 7, 1997
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.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Judiciary
Jan 7, 1997
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act of 1997 - 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.

Sets penalties for 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 (sic) - 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.

What's happening now March 24, 1997

Re-referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Committees of jurisdiction 15