The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on December 17, in a memorandum from Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates, that DOJ is transferring responsibility for the prosecution of many workplace violations to the Environmental Crimes Section of its Environment and Natural Resources Division.  The stated purpose of the transfer of responsibility is to encourage utilizing Title 18, the federal criminal code, to prosecute environmental offenses arising out of worker safety incidents, in order to enhance penalties and increase deterrence.  The Environmental Crimes Section can utilize prosecutions under such statutes as the Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation & Recovery Act,… Read more