What is the maximum federal penalty for a RCRA hazardous waste violation?

As of 2025, the maximum federal civil penalty for RCRA hazardous waste violations is up to $93,058 per day per violation, as adjusted for inflation under 40 CFR 19.4.

What is the federal penalty for failing to report a spill?

Failure to report a spill can result in federal civil penalties up to $71,545, plus potential criminal penalties including up to 3 years imprisonment.

Do state environmental penalties apply on top of federal penalties?

Yes. State environmental penalties can be assessed in addition to federal penalties. Many states have their own penalty structures that may be more or less stringent than federal maximums. A facility could face both federal and state enforcement for the same violation.

Environmental Penalties Lookup Tool

Federal and state environmental violation penalties, updated for 2025. Select your state below to see state-specific penalties alongside federal maximums. Every facility in the U.S. is subject to federal penalties. Your state may add penalties on top of those.

Select Your State

⚠ Federal Penalties (Apply in All 50 States) — 2025 Adjusted

RCRA Hazardous Waste Violation 42 U.S.C. §6928 | Generators, transporters, TSDFs

Up to $93,058/day

Clean Water Act Violation 33 U.S.C. §1319 | Unpermitted discharge, NPDES violations

Up to $65,618/day

Clean Air Act Violation 42 U.S.C. §7413 | Emission standards, permits, monitoring

Up to $115,527/day

CERCLA (Superfund) - First Offense 42 U.S.C. §9606 | Failure to comply with EPA order

Up to $71,545

CERCLA (Superfund) - Subsequent Offense 42 U.S.C. §9606 | Repeated noncompliance

Up to $214,637

SPCC / Oil Spill (CWA §311) 33 U.S.C. §1321 | Per barrel of oil discharged

Up to $2,563/barrel

Failure to Report a Spill 33 U.S.C. §1321 | Plus criminal penalties up to 3 years

Up to $71,545 + criminal

EPCRA Violation 42 U.S.C. §11045 | Emergency planning, community right-to-know

Up to $71,545/day

OSHA Serious Violation 29 U.S.C. §666 | Workplace safety and health

Up to $16,131

OSHA Willful / Repeat Violation 29 U.S.C. §666 | Intentional or repeated noncompliance

Up to $161,323

Select a state above to view state-specific penalties, agency contact information, and spill reporting numbers.

⚠ Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Penalty amounts shown are statutory maximums and may not reflect actual assessed penalties, which depend on violation severity, compliance history, and other factors. Federal penalties are from the 2025 inflation-adjusted rule (40 CFR 19.4, effective January 8, 2025). State penalties are based on current statutes but may have been updated. Always verify with your state environmental agency or legal counsel. SpillNerd is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

Need to Report a Spill Right Now?

National Response Center (federal): 1-800-424-8802

Your state spill hotline is shown above when you select your state.

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