Press Release: 42 New Agencies to Help Protect the Environment, Simplify Business Compliance

For Immediate Release (C-10-97)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
January 2, 1997

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

SACRAMENTO -- On Tuesday, December 31, 1996 California Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock approved the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)applications of 42 more  counties and other governmental organizations.  When added to the 14 CUPAs previously approved, 56 local entities will now do the environmental protection work previously performed by nearly 1400 entities.

"The Unified program advances Governor Wilson's vision of better achieving environmental protection by empowering local communities and holding them accountable for results.  Through these certifications, California continues to break new ground in reforming the regulatory processes used to achieve the nation's highest environmental standards.," Secretary Strock said.

The Unified Program was established under SB 1082, (Calderon 1993) to help reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of environmental regulation.  Through many such regulatory reform measures, Governor Wilson ensures that economic and environmental progress can be achieved together.

"Senator Calderon has worked closely with the Wilson Administration on environmental regulatory reform efforts.  His leadership on the Unified Program has made a difference in simplyfing the regulatory maze faced by businesses both large and small," Strock said.     

By combining six previously separate environmental functions and responsibilities under one local agency, the CUPAs are better able to serve employers and protect the environment.  Those six programs include: hazardous waste generator and on-site treatment regulation, underground storage tank permitting, above ground storage tank spill prevention, risk management prevention programs, hazardous materials storage permitting and hazardous materials management plans and inventories required by the Uniform Fire Code.

These 42 new certifications join 14 certified local agencies announced earlier this year, spreading the Unified Program's benefits of lower costs and greater convenience to most of the state's counties.  Below is a complete list of new and previously certified CUPAs.

Attachment: Cal/EPA's CUPA DECISIONS
Released: December 31, 1996

I.   EARLIER CERTIFICATION OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

1. Lake
2. Kings
3. San Diego
4. San Francisco
5. Sacramento
6. Del Norte
7. Humbolt
8. Mendocino
9. Monterey
10. Napa
11. Shasta
12. San Joaquin
13. Stanislaus
14. Yolo counties

II.  CERTIFICATION (EFFECTIVE 1/1/97) OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

1. Contra Costa
2. El Dorado
3. Fresno
4. Madera
5. Merced
6. Nevada
7. Orange
8. Riverside
9. San Benito
10. San Bernardino
11. San Luis Obispo
12. San Mateo
13. Santa Barbara
14. Santa Cruz
15. Siskiyou
16. Solano
17. Tulare
18. Tuolumne

III. NOTICE OF INTENT TO CERTIFY, PENDING SIGNING COORDINATING AGREEMENTS

A.   Alameda County:

1. Alameda County
2. Berkeley
3. Fremont
4. Hayward
5. Oakland

B.   Kern County: the County and Bakersfield

C.   Los Angeles County:

1. Los Angeles County
2. City of L.A.
3. Glendale
4. Long Beach/Signal Hill 
5. Santa Fe Springs
6. Santa Monica
7. Vernon

D.   Marin County: the County and San Rafael

E.   Placer County: the County and Roseville

F.   Santa Clara County: the County and City of Santa Clara

G.   Sonoma County: the County and Santa Rosa

H.   Ventura County: the County and Oxnard

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