Press Release: Three Rural Agencies Named to Help Protect the Environment, Simplify Business Compliance

For Immediate Release (C-31-97)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
December 31, 1997

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

SACRAMENTO--California Secretary for Environmental Protection Peter M. Rooney today approved the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) applications for Alpine, Mono, and Amador Counties. When added to the 66 CUPAs approved earlier in the year, 69 local entities now do the environmental protection work previously performed by nearly 250 local agencies and the state.

"The Unified Program advances Governor Wilson's vision of consolidated responsibility and accountability for environmental protection activities." Secretary Rooney said.

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

"Businesses in these small rural counties will now enjoy the benefits of regulatory reform already available in larger cities and counties," Rooney said.

By combining six previously separate environmental functions and responsibilities under one agency, the CUPAs are better able to serve their communities 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.

Beginning January 1, 1998, CUPA authority is vested in these three agencies:

Alpine County Health Department
Contact: James Goodloe
Markleeville, CA
(916) 694-2146

Mono County Health Department
Contact: Dennis Lampson
Bridgeport, CA
(760) 932-7485

Amador County Environmental Health
Contact: Michael Israel
Jackson, CA
(209) 223-6439

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