Press Release: Eight Additional Agencies to Help Protect the Environment, Simplify Business Compliance

For Immediate Release (C-09-97)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
March 28, 1997

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

SACRAMENTO--California Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock announced today the approval of eight additional Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) applications. The CUPA Program is an innovative State and local effort to consolidate, coordinate and unify six existing environmental regulatory programs.

"This program promotes Governor Wilson's initiative of achieving environmental protection in our communities by empowering local authorities and by giving them the tools necessary to help protect public health. These new agencies will ensure the highest environmental standards in our local cities and counties and while simplifying the "regulatory web" all-too-often encountered by our local employers," Secretary Strock said.

The CUPA program was established under SB 1082 authored by Senator Calderon in 1993 to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of environmental regulations in California. Through numerous environmental regulatory reform measures, the Wilson Administration promotes environmental and economic consolidation and unity.

In December of 1996, Cal/EPA approved 42 new CUPA applications. Cal/EPA recently completed an appeal process for applicants that were not selected last year. Cal/EPA held public hearings to ensure that all applicants were given a fair review. The additional CUPA's named today demonstrated their ability and
resources to operate these environmental programs.

By combining six previously separate environmental functions and responsibilities under one local agency, CUPAs are better able to serve businesses and protect the local 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 storage permitting and hazardous materials management plans and inventories required by the Uniform Fire Code.

These eight additional agencies join 56 certified local agencies which will now perform the environmental protection work previously handled by nearly 1400 entities. A question and answer fact sheet is available by calling (916) 324-9670 or by accessing Cal/EPA's Internet home page at http://www.calepa.ca.gov.

The complete list of approved CUPA applications is as follows:

LIST OF APPROVED CUPA APPLICATIONS
RELEASED: March 28, 1997
CONTACT: Cal/EPA EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, (916) 323-2520

• Alameda County
• City of Berkeley
• City of Fremont
• City of Hayward
• Livermore-Pleasanton
• City of Newark
• City of Oakland
• City of San Leandro
• City of Union City
• Contra Costa County
• Del Norte County
• El Dorado County
• Fresno County
• Humboldt County
• Kern County
• City of Bakersfield
• Kings County
• Lake County
• Los Angeles County
• City of El Segundo
• City of Glendale
• Long Beach/Signal Hill JPA
• City of Los Angeles
• City of Santa Fe Springs
• City of Santa Monica
• City of Vernon
• Madera County
• Marin County
• City of San Rafael
• Mendocino County
• Merced County
• Monterey County
• Napa County
• Nevada County
• Orange County
• Placer County
• City of Roseville
• Riverside County
• Sacramento County
• San Benito County
• San Bernardino County
• Santa Clara County
• City of Gilroy
• City of Santa Clara
• San Diego County
• San Francisco, City and County
• San Joaquin County
• San Luis Obispo County
• San Mateo County
• Santa Barbara County
• Santa Cruz County
• Shasta County
• Siskiyou County
• Solano County
• Sonoma County
• Healdsburg/Sebastopol JPA
• City of Petaluma
• City of Santa Rosa
• Stanislaus County
• Tulare County
• Tuolumne County
• Ventura County
• City of Oxnard
• Yolo County

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