— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency today released a two-year action plan to collaboratively address environmental justice issues across California by enforcing laws that protect public health and the environment.
“We are proud to continue this groundbreaking partnership with CalEPA to help ensure cleaner air, water and land for underserved communities across California,”“Enforcement of environmental laws has an enormous potential to address environmental justice issues, and working collaboratively with a committed state partner like CalEPA allows both agencies to focus our resources more narrowly on addressing community priorities.
A renewed commitment to enhanced, sustained engagement with the five community forums in Los Angeles, Fresno County, Kern County, the Eastern Coachella Valley and the Bayview-Hunters Point community in San Francisco, which were piloted under the 2023 action plan.Increased transparency and access to environmental compliance information for the public.
Through partnerships in each of these areas, EPA and CalEPA start with a community-first approach for strategic targeting and enforcement. The agencies convene monthly meetings to understand community concerns, follow up on all complaints, work across environmental areas and levels of government to seek solutions, and regularly communicate with the forum’s participants regarding their progress and any challenges.