Development of the Cal/EPA EJ Strategy

The Cal/EPA EJ Strategy is the product of the 2001-2004 collaboration between the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice, the Advisory Committee on Environmental Justice, and other EJ stakeholders (including community, local government, business, industry, and Tribal representatives). The strategy provides the foundation for addressing environmental justice issues and shall be reviewed regularly and revised as necessary in consideration of evolving environmental justice issues, programs, policies, and activities.

• Secretary Tamminen’s Memorandum to All Interested Parties on Finalization of the Cal/EPA EJ Strategy (August 27, 2004) (.pdf format)
• Cal/EPA EJ Strategy (August 2004) (.pdf format)
• Responses to Major Comments on the July 2004 Draft EJ Strategy (.pdf format)
• Cal/EPA Draft EJ Strategy (July 2004) (.pdf format)

Below are the written comments received on the July 2004 Cal/EPA Draft EJ Strategy:

• Senator Martha Escutia, California State Senate, 30th District (.pdf format)
• Bay Area Air Quality Management District (.pdf format)
• California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (.pdf format)
• California Environmental Rights Alliance (.pdf format)
• Center on Race, Poverty, & the Environment (.pdf format)
• City and County of San Francisco, Department of the Environment (.pdf format)
• Clean Water Action (.pdf format)
• Community Action to Fight Asthma (.pdf format)
• Regional Council of Rural Counties (.pdf format)
• Joint Comments from the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, Environmental Health Coalition, and People Organizing to Demand Environmental & Economic Rights (.pdf format)

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Interagency Working Group

Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 71113, the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (Working Group or IWG) is composed of the Cal/EPA Secretary, the Director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, the Chairs of Cal/EPA's Boards, and the Directors of Cal/EPA's Departments and Office.

May 24, 2004 - The IWG discussed and heard public testimony on Staff Proposed Draft Recommendations for a Cal/EPA Intra-agency Environmental Justice Strategy (.pdf, 132 KB). The Working Group approved the staff proposal as recommendations to the Secretary for the intra-agency EJ strategy. The IWG also recommended that the Secretary consider the public comments received and incorporate them as appropriate into the strategy.

• May 24, 2004, IWG Meeting Transcripts (.pdf, 321 KB)

Written Comments:

• Center for Law in the Public Interest (.pdf, 187 KB)
• California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (.pdf, 394 KB)
• California Environmental Rights Alliance (.pdf, 109 KB)
• Regional Council of Rural Counties (.pdf, 161 KB)

October 14, 2003 - The IWG discussed the Advisory Committee's Recommendations Report. The IWG also approved a resolution endorsing the Advisory Committee's report and agreed to use the goals and recommendations contained therein to provide the structure for development of the Cal/EPA intra-agency environmental justice strategy.

January 21, 2003 - The IWG met with the Advisory Committee to get updated on the development of the Advisory Committee's Draft EJ Strategy Recommendations Document.

May 18, 2002 - The IWG met with the Advisory Committee to discuss the next steps in the development of a Cal/EPA intra-agency environmental justice strategy. The IWG and Advisory Committee heard from a number of panelists as well as oral testimony from many persons in the public. In conclusion of the joint meeting, the IWG requested that the Advisory Committee develop recommendations based on their expertise and input from the public on a intra-agency EJ strategy.

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Advisory Committee on Environmental Justice (2001-2004)

In accordance with Public Resources Code section 71114, the Advisory Committee is a multi-stakeholder group providing input to the Interagency Working Group on environmental justice issues.

• 2001-2004 Advisory Committee Members (.pdf format, 171 KB)

September 30, 2003 - The Advisory Committee finalized their Environmental Justice Recommendations to the Interagency Working Group document, which covers specific areas in regards to Cal/EPA’s legislative mandate and is intended to provide a set of comprehensive recommendations to establish and implement an effective environmental justice program at Cal/EPA.

• Final EJ Advisory Committee Recommendations Document (PDF, 439 KB)
• Recomendaciones del Comité Asesor Cal/EPA sobre Justicia Ambiental para el Grupo de Trabajo Interagencias Cal/EPA sobre Justicia Ambiental (PDF, 762 KB)

Appendices for EJ Advisory Committee Recommendations Document:

• Appendix A (.pdf, 139 KB)
• Appendix B (.pdf, 210 KB)
• Appendix C (.pdf, 80 KB)
• Appendix D (.pdf, 106 KB)
• Appendix E (.pdf, 98 KB)
• Appendix F (.pdf, 170 KB)
• Appendix G (.pdf, 58 KB)
• Appendix H (.pdf, 151 KB)
• Appendix I (.pdf, 2,310 KB)

September 29 & 30, 2003 - The Advisory Committee reviewed the written comments received during the public comment period for the draft Recommendations document. The Committee also heard and considered public comment from a variety of EJ stakeholders at the Committee meeting. On September 30th, 2003, the Advisory Committee revised and finalized the Recommendations document.

June 18-19, 2003 - EJ Advisory Committee Meeting met at the Mark Ridley Thomas Constituent Service Center in Los Angeles on the draft Recommendations document.

• Draft 6 EJAC Recommendations Report document dated July 11, 2003 (.pdf,774 KB):
• Draft 5 EJAC Recommendations Report Document dated: June 18, 2003 (.pdf, 374 KB)

April 21, 2003 - The Advisory Committee met to discuss and revise the Draft EJ Recommendations Document at the Cal/EPA Headquarters in Sacramento.

• Draft 4 EJAC Recommendation Report Document (Microsoft Word, 374 KB)
• April 21, 2003, DRAFT Meeting Notes (Revised June 4, 2003, .pdf, 126 KB)

March 18 & 19, 2003 - The Advisory Committee Met at the West Sacramento at West Sacramento Civic Center/City Hall to discuss the draft Recommendations Report.

• Draft 3 EJAC Recommendation Report Document (.pdf, 253 KB)
• March 18-19, 2003, DRAFT Meeting Notes (Adobe Acrobat, 246 KB)

February 18, 2003 - The Advisory Committee met to hear and discuss information on the precautionary principle and cumulative impacts.

• February 18, 2003, DRAFT Meeting Notes (.pdf, 276 KB)

January 21, 2003 - The Advisory Committee met to discuss the Draft Advisory Committee EJ Strategy Recommendations Document and update the InterAgency Working Group on the status of development on the document.

• January 21, 2003, Draft 2 EJAC Recommendations Report Document (.pdf, 347 KB)

January 10, 2003 - The Advisory Committee met to discuss EJ Advisory Committee Recommendations Report drafted by the Advisory Subcommittee and revision to the Advisory Committee By-Laws to include the new Committee members.

• Draft 1 EJAC Recommendations Report Document (.pdf, 268 KB)

November 20, 2002 - The Advisory Committee met to discuss next steps in developing EJ strategy recommendations to the InterAgency Working Group on Environmental Justice (IWG). The Advisory Committee also introduced the four new Advisory Committee members representing a federally recognized tribe, environmental organizations and small business.

• November 20, 2003, Meeting Notes (.pdf, 265 KB)
• Draft EJ Strategy Framework (v. 11-04-02) (.pdf, 307 KB)

September, 2002 - Four additional members are selected and appointed by the Cal/EPA Secretary to the Advisory Committee representing (1) One representative from a federally recognized tribe, (2) two representatives from environmental justice organizations, and (1) one representative from a small business or a small business association ("small business" defined by subdivision (c) of Civil Procedure Code section 1028.5).

June 17, 2002 - The Advisory Committee met to discuss the consideration of the expansion of the Cal/EPA Advisory Committee and initiate the development of environmental justice strategic elements.

• June 17, 2002, Meeting Notes (.pdf, 116 KB)

May 17, 2002 - The Advisory Committee revised and adopted By-Laws (.pdf, 24 KB) which describe the mission of the Advisory Committee as well as the structure of the committee membership, and reports and recommendations generated by the Committee.

December 2001 - The Secretary of Cal/EPA selects the members of the Cal/EPA Advisory Committee on Environmental Justice.