1. EPA and CalEPA released a two-year action plan to collaboratively address environmental justice issues across California.
2. The plan focuses on enhanced engagement with community forums, rapid response task forces, transparency, and strengthened connections.
3. Successes from the partnership include responding to incidents like a fire at a recycling facility, illegal dumping in Fresno County, and conducting emergency response drills with community participation.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) have released a two-year action plan to address environmental justice issues in California by enforcing laws that protect public health and the environment. This plan builds on a federal-state partnership launched in 2021 and aims to reduce pollution burdens, increase environmental compliance, and improve public health outcomes in overburdened communities in California. The agencies are committed to working collaboratively with community partners to address community priorities.
The 2024/2025 Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan includes a focus on enhanced engagement with community forums in various locations, rapid response task forces, increased transparency, and strengthened connections for information-sharing. Through partnerships with communities, EPA and CalEPA aim to strategically target their enforcement efforts and hold facilities accountable for environmental non-compliance.
Some local successes from the partnership include responding to environmental threats after a fire at Radius Recycling in Oakland, addressing illegal dumping in Fresno County, and conducting emergency response drills in Torrance, California. The agencies are also committed to engaging with environmental and community groups in areas with environmental justice concerns, such as the Mid-Alameda Corridor in Los Angeles. Overall, the partnership between EPA and CalEPA aims to improve air, water, and soil quality in underserved communities and hold corporate polluters accountable.