CalEPA Awards Over $1 Million in Environmental Justice Grants to Communities and Tribes
For Immediate Release
July 24, 2018
Media Contact
Sheryl Watson (916) 324-9670
SACRAMENTO – The California Environmental Protection Agency today announced more than $1 million in grants to 28 organizations and federally recognized tribal governments statewide. These grants are designed to improve environmental and health conditions, and to promote public engagement in California communities disproportionately burdened by pollution.
“These grants support innovative, collaborative projects that help to reduce pollution and protect public health in our most vulnerable communities,” said Matthew Rodriquez, California Secretary for Environmental Protection. “Along with other CalEPA initiatives, these grants reflect our ongoing commitment to address environmental justice issues across California.”
Projects selected for CalEPA’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Small Grants address a variety of issues, including ensuring safe and affordable drinking water, enhancing public participation on climate change policies, and educating consumers about the health and safety issues associated with the use of various chemical products. Many projects focus on providing information to residents of disproportionately burdened communities and enabling more robust and meaningful participation in environmental decision-making at local, state, and federal levels.
This year’s grant recipients are located throughout the state, including Northern, Southern and Central California, as well as inland and coastal communities.
Funds for this program are provided by the boards, departments and office within CalEPA. Additional funding this year came from Supplemental Environmental Projects that result from settlements of enforcement actions brought by CalEPA’s boards and departments. For next year, the Legislature approved $1.5 million for the EJ Small Grants Program as part of the fiscal year 2018-19 budget signed by the Governor last month.
The CalEPA EJ Small Grants Program was established by Assembly Bill 2312 (Statutes of 2002, Chapter 994) to provide grants to eligible nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribal governments. Since its inception, the program has awarded 118 grants totaling $2.8 million.
Details about the 2018 EJ Small Grant recipients are available online.
• California Air Resources Board • Department of Pesticide Regulation • Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) • Department of Toxic Substances Control • Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment • State Water Resources Control Board • Regional Water Quality Control Boards
CalEPA, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 • P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812 • (916) 323-2514 www.calepa.ca.gov