California Environmental Protection Agency
 Logo of Cal/EPA | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 17, 1991 |
| Headquarters | 1001 I Street Sacramento, California |
| Employees | 4,550 permanent staff |
| Annual budget | $1.8 billion (2011) |
| Agency executives |
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| Child agencies | |
| Website | http://www.calepa.ca.gov/ |
The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) is a state cabinet-level agency within the government of California. Cal/EPA is composed of six departments, boards and offices responsible for environmental research, regulating and administering the state's environmental protection programs, and fulfilling hazardous waste cleanup.
The current Secretary for Environmental Protection is Matt Rodriquez, and is a member of Governor Jerry Brown's cabinet.[1]
Cal/EPA should not be confused with the similarly named federal Environmental Protection Agency.
History
Cal/EPA was created by Governor Pete Wilson by Executive Order W-5-91 in 1991, following on a "Big Green" initiative Wilson proposed during the 1990 state gubernatorial elections, promising a cabinet-level agency to oversee state environmental regulations and research.[2] Following inter-agency reorganizations led by the governor with review by both houses of the California State Legislature, the agency became a cabinet department on July 17, 1991.
Cal/EPA, and its departmental California Air Resources Board, were one of the key supporters of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, making the state the first in the United States to cap all greenhouse gas emissions from major industries.
In June 2008, Cal/EPA announced that new global warming performance labels would be placed on all new cars effective on January 1, 2009. The stickers will provide two scores: a smog score and a global warming score with a grade from 1 to 10 assigned. The higher the grade, the more environmentally friendly the vehicle is.[3]
Departments, boards, and offices
The following departments, boards and offices fall under Cal/EPA:[4]
- California Air Resources Board
- Department of Pesticide Regulation
- Department of Toxic Substances Control
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
- State Water Resources Control Board
See also
- Climate change in California
- Environmentalism
- Kyoto Protocol
- Pollution in California
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
References
- ^ "Executive Management". California Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
- ^ "History". California Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
- ^ "California Slaps Global Warming Performance Labels On New Cars". The Auto Writer. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ "Cal/EPA Boards, Departments, and Offices". California Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2009-01-17.