Andrea Abat: Special Agent for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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Andrea Abat has been a Special Agent for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since 1997. Andrea first became familiar with environmental issues as an Army Officer stationed in Germany since her unit generated hazardous waste in the process of making field maps and Germany had strict environmental compliance laws. Knowing that she wanted to work in the environmental field, she first became an Emergency Response Contractor responding to serious environmental disasters. In this capacity, she often worked alongside EPA special agents, an involvement which sparked her interest in environmental crime investigation and ultimately led to her becoming a special agent herself.
EPA's special agents are responsible for investigating allegations of environmental crime and assisting the Department of Justice in building and prosecuting successful criminal cases involving the most egregious violations of environmental statutes, thus deterring future crimes. They are federal law enforcement officers with complete statutory authority to conduct investigations, carry firearms, make arrests for any federal crime, and execute and serve warrants.
For more information about EPA's criminal enforcement program, go to www.epa.gov/enf...
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[@EPAgov]

EPA’s regulations are not self-enforcing-that is why EPA has an enforcement office that investigates and helps the U.S. Department of Justice prosecute civil and criminal violations of the nation's environmental laws. These laws, like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, were enacted by Congress and contain provisions for enforcement.

[@rye89able]

I think this is great. To have and utilize special agents for environmental enforcement and investigation and prosecution of potential and actual environmental crimes is a backbone of protecting our environment and public health. Congratulations on this policy and I support it completely, as a concerned U.S. citizen.

[@walkerlw2]

I don't understand. I thought the EPA was a regulatory agency, not a law enforcement agency. They pass regulations, not laws. What laws does she enforce and under what authority? Just wondering.

[@araslyn]

Please help me. FirstEnergy is contaminating the Waters of the Commonwealth of PA. I have complained to the DEP and the Dep. of Agriculture and they will not fine them. FirstEnergy will not submit to the law. I have a formal complaint with the PUC. The judge is considering my case. BUT FirstEnergy continues to spray herbicides on creeks, buffer zones and wetlands. If anyone else would have done this they would have already been fined.. I am considering a civil case, but I shouldn't have to do this. Protecting the water iisn't my job it's the DEPs' job. FirstEnergy has also misused the chemicals they use. NOBODY CARES. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME STOP THIS.

[@killerdrums2010]

"environmental crime challenges"?????