Our Mission
Our mission is to restore, protect and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality and economic vitality.
We fulfill our mission by developing, implementing and enforcing environmental laws that regulate air, water and soil quality, pesticide use and waste recycling and reduction. Our departments are at the forefront of environmental science, using the most recent research to shape the state’s environmental laws.
The Office of the Secretary heads CalEPA, overseeing and coordinating the activities of one office, two boards, and three departments dedicated to improving California’s environment.
Our Departments
CalEPA consists of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
- CARB works to reduce air pollution and diesel exhaust so all Californians can breathe cleaner air and leads the nation in fighting climate change with integrated programs to cut greenhouse gases under AB 32.
- DPR DPR protects people and the environment by fostering sustainable pest management and regulating pesticides.
- CalRecycle helps the state achieve the highest waste reduction, recycling and reuse goals in the nation through programs that improve economic vitality and environmental sustainability.
- DTSC cleans up hazardous waste sites to put them back into productive use and reduce blight and contamination to the neighborhoods and surrounding environments.
- OEHHA serves as the scientific foundation for CalEPA’s environmental regulations and provides valuable information to consumers, policy makers and manufacturers on the safety of chemicals in our environment.
- SWRCB ensures that the quality of drinking water and our water ways is safe and that we balance its use to meet the needs of all Californians.