Fines for destroying land will now keep up with inflation

The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement just raised its civil penalties to account for inflation. This means companies that damage land through surface mining will face higher fines than before.

For years, the real cost of federal fines has eroded because the numbers were not adjusted for inflation. This meant that the penalty for breaking environmental rules became less and less of a deterrent over time. Now, the fines will automatically increase each year, making them a more consistent disincentive for companies to damage land.