USEPA and CalEPA Memorandum of Understanding and Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan

• 2021 Memorandum of Understanding
• 2024/25 Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan
• 2023 Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan

2021 Memorandum of Understanding Between U.S. EPA and Cal EPA on Enforcement in Overburdened Communities

On September 10, 2021, U.S. EPA Region 9 and CalEPA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Collaborative Efforts on Enforcement and Compliance Assurance in Overburdened Communities (news release). The first-of-its-kind MOU set a strategic direction and formalized a partnership between the state and federal government to focus on three areas: strategic targeting of inspections, enforcement actions, and community engagement.

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• Memorandum of Understanding: U.S. EPA and CalEPA on Enforcement in Overburdened Communities (pdf) (202.81 KB, September 10, 2021)
  Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Collaborative Efforts on Enforcement and Compliance Assurance in Overburdened Communities between the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 and the California Environmental Protection Agency.

2024/25 Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan

In April 2024, EPA and Cal EPA announced the second Action Plan under the MOU to continue their collaborative effort to support addressing noncompliance in overburdened communities across the state. Focal areas under the 2024/25 Action Plan include:

• 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-Hunter’s Point community in San Francisco that were piloted under a 2023 action plan that was developed under initial the 2021 agreement between EPA and CalEPA.
• Institutionalization of a rapid response task force.
• Increased transparency and access to environmental compliance information.
• Strengthened connections, including enhanced opportunities for information sharing across communities and improved communication among program areas within agencies.

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• EPA Region 9 and California EPA Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan (2024/2025) (pdf) (418.93 KB, April 18, 2024)
  U.S. EPA and Cal EPA’s second Action Plan under the 2021 MOU renewing the federal and state commitment to support addressing noncompliance in overburdened communities across the state.
• Región 9 de la EPA y Plan de acción para el cumplimiento de la justicia ambiental de la EPA de California (2024/2025) (pdf) (460.8 KB, 18 de abril de 2024)
  El segundo Plan de Acción de la EPA de EE. UU. y Cal EPA en virtud del MOU de 2021 renueva el compromiso federal y estatal para ayudar a abordar el incumplimiento en comunidades sobrecargadas en todo el estado.

2023 Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan

In December 2022, after extensive consultation with residents and advocates in overburdened communities across the state, EPA and Cal EPA announced the first Action Plan under the MOU. The Plan outlined a sustained commitment to pilot communities across the state by outlining an innovative toolbox of resources to better communicate objectives and results within communities impacted by noncompliance.

Download

• EPA Region 9 and California EPA Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan (2023) (pdf) (716.42 KB, September 2023)
  U.S. EPA and Cal EPA’s first Action Plan under the 2021 MOU outlining a sustained commitment to pilot communities utilizing an innovative toolbox of resources to better communicate objectives and results within communities impacted by noncompliance across the state.
• Región 9 de la EPA y Plan de acción para el cumplimiento de la justicia ambiental de la EPA de California (2023) (pdf) (655.62 KB, Septiembre 2023)
  El primer Plan de Acción de la EPA de EE. UU. y Cal EPA en virtud del MOU de 2021 que describe un compromiso sostenido para poner a prueba a las comunidades utilizando una caja de herramientas innovadora de recursos para comunicar mejor los objetivos y resultados dentro de las comunidades afectadas por el incumplimiento en todo el estado.