§ 2Q1.3.
Mishandling of Other Environmental Pollutants; Recordkeeping, Tampering, and Falsification
(a) Base Offense Level: 6
(b) Specific Offense Characteristics
(1) (A) If the offense resulted in an ongoing, continuous, or repetitive discharge, release, or emission of a pollutant into the environment, increase by 6 levels; or
(B) if the offense otherwise involved a discharge, release, or emission of a pollutant, increase by 4 levels.
(2) If the offense resulted in disruption of public utilities or evacuation of a community, or if cleanup required a substantial expenditure, increase by 4 levels.
(3) If the offense involved a discharge without a permit or in violation of a permit, increase by 4 levels.
Historical note
Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1989 (amendment 205); November 1, 2018 (amendment 813); November 1, 2025 (amendment 836); November 1, 2026 (amendment 837).
Commentary
Statutory provisions
Statutory Provisions: 33 U.S.C. §§ 403, 406, 407, 411, 1319(c)(1), (c)(2), 1415(b), 1907, 1908; 42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(1)–(4). For additional statutory provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory Index).
Application Notes:
1. If the offense involved mishandling of nuclear material, apply §2M6.2 (Violation of Other Federal Atomic Energy Agency Statutes, Rules, and Regulations) rather than this guideline.
2. Subsection (b)(1) assumes a discharge or emission into the environment resulting in actual environmental contamination. A wide range of conduct, involving the handling of different quantities of materials with widely differing propensities, potentially is covered.
3. Subsection (b)(2) provides an enhancement where a public disruption, evacuation or cleanup at substantial expense has been required.
4. Subsection (b)(3) applies where the offense involved violation of a permit, or where there was a failure to obtain a permit when one was required.
Background
Background: This section parallels §2Q1.2 but applies to offenses involving substances which are not pesticides and are not designated as hazardous or toxic.