As the two-year mark of the Donald Trump presidency passes, data on the effects of the administration’s deregulatory efforts is beginning to emerge. But even as trends become identifiable, South Florida litigators and environmental activists can’t seem to agree on exactly what they portend.

The Washington Post reported Jan. 24 that civil penalties levied against polluters have dropped precipitously under Trump. The article cited an analysis conducted by former EPA enforcement official Cynthia Giles showing when adjusted for inflation, civil penalties for pollution have declined to their smallest totals since the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance was created. Giles’ numbers also illustrated offenders are spending less money to become compliant with federal environmental regulations. According to the article, last year’s $5.6 billion sum “represents the lowest amount of injunctive relief since 2003” and “is below the roughly $7.8 billion average for the two decades before Trump took office.”