Companies With Environmental-Related Concerns Should Pay Attention to DOJ’s Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy
On February 22, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the formalization of its voluntary self-disclosure policy for corporate criminal enforcement (VSD Policy) for all U.S. Attorney’s Offices (USAO). The VSD Policy details the circumstances under which a disclosure will qualify as a voluntary self-disclosure under the policy and, in turn, provides incentives to companies to make eligible self-disclosures. One such incentive — provided that the company makes an eligible self-disclosure, fully cooperates, and timely and appropriately remediates the criminal conduct — is that the USAO will not seek a guilty plea unless there are aggravating factors present. This is the first time DOJ has issued nationwide standards for voluntary self-disclosures for corporate criminal enforcement.
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- FERC issues Order to Show Cause to Footprint for alleged tariff violations and submission of false information;
- The Supreme Court denies TOTAL petition for writ of certiorari;
- FERC settles with Duke Energy regarding alleged violation of FERC market behavior rule on communications;
- CFTC orders Société Générale S.A. to pay $475 million penalty to resolve charges of alleged LIBOR and Euribor manipulation; and
- U.S. Department of Justice announces new policy on coordination of corporate penalties.
