From: Fortune
“Of the 166 cases referred last year for prosecution, just 62 federal convictions were secured, the lowest since 1995. Jeff Ruch, executive director of the organization Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, told Fortune in an email that the decline in criminal action is twofold. Ruch said less resources have been dedicated to these cases, as result of “policy changes that discourage prosecution.” He said the number of agents assigned to investigate polluters also dropped to 140 in April from 200 in 1990.”