Contact: Rob Ostrander 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Thursday, May 27, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Kit Bond today said he is committed to putting more environmental cops on the beat and increasing the number of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement agents to fight the nation's war on terror.

"We have credible intelligence from multiple sources that indicates al Qaeda plans to attempt an attack on the United States in the next few months," said Senator Bond noting yesterday's warning by the Attorney General and FBI Director. "We must do everything we can to protect our families from the threat of terrorism, and that includes environmental threats related to chemical, biological or nuclear attack."

Senator Bond, Chairman of the Senate subcommittee funding the EPA, last month introduced the Environmental Enforcement and Security Act (EESA). The bill authorizes additional funding for homeland security and environmental enforcement personnel. Senator Bond's bill would provide 50 new EPA special agents for homeland security. The bill also provides 50 new EPA special agents to fight criminal violations of environmental laws.

"EPA must respond to every call for help in the war on terrorism. I will make sure EPA has the funds to fight terrorism aggressively and vigorously enforce environmental violations," said Bond.

Heightened terrorism awareness from federal officials comes with new evidence that EPA is straining to meet its dual mission of enforcing criminal violations of environmental statutes and supporting government-wide homeland security efforts. EPA is unable to meet FBI requests for EPA agents to serve on a Joint Terrorism Task Force and recalled agents previously detailed to the FBI.

"Our families deserve protection both from terrorists and intentional violators of our environmental laws," said Bond. "I will provide EPA the resources so that they do not have to choose between these vital efforts, but can fully protect both the homeland and the environment."

EPA's Criminal Enforcement program investigates the most egregious violators of environmental laws that pose a significant threat to human health and the environment. EPA Homeland Security Special Agents are members of FBI Counter Terrorism Response Teams that detect terrorist activities, investigate crime scenes involving hazardous or toxic materials and would respond to terrorist attacks involving chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction.