FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         ENR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1996                       (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

               STATEMENT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON
         ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES AND ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 1996

     I am pleased to be joined here today by Steve Herman,
Assistant Administrator of EPA for Enforcement and Compliance 
Assurance who is representing EPA Administrator Carol Browner,
and Lois Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment
and Natural Resources Division.

     Protecting our environment is a fundamental value of this
country.  The American people want, and have a right to expect,
strong environmental protection.  Therefore, today we are sending
to Congress the "Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act of
1996."

     This bill will provide us with better tools to achieve goals
important to everyone:

    To protect human health, public safety, and the natural
     resources we all cherish; and,
    To enhance partnerships between federal law enforcement and
     state, local, and tribal governments in investigating and
     prosecuting environmental crimes.

     This act helps us meet each of these goals.  For example,
the legislation adds an "attempt" provision to environmental
statutes so that we may prosecute environmental criminals even
when we stop a crime in progress.

     The bill authorizes courts to order convicted criminals to
reimburse States, localities, and tribes for costs they incur
assisting in federal environmental prosecutions, thus increasing
their ability to cooperate in federal criminal environmental
proceedings.

     It provides for enhanced punishment when anyone suffers
death or serious injury as a result of a criminal violation of
federal environmental law.

     It also provides a limited extension of the statute of
limitations in cases where a violator has concealed his
environmental felony.

     Finally, the bill will amend the federal restitution
statutes to clarify the authority of the courts to provide for
restitution in environmental crimes cases.  It will also enable
federal courts to issue appropriate orders to ensure that those
charged with environmental crimes do not shield or dispose of 
assets needed to pay for restitution.

     We look forward to working with Congress to get this law
passed.
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