Environmental Enforcement and Training Grants

 

Current Status of Grant Availability

The grant cycle is currently closed. Please check back in March 2025 for updates on the 2025-2026 grant cycle.

About the Grants

The Environmental Enforcement and Training Account Grant Program (Penal Code section 14300 et seq. and Title 27, California Code of Regulations, section 10014 et seq.) was established to provide a non-general fund source of financial assistance for environmental enforcement, education and training to enhance statewide enforcement of environmental laws. Funding sources primarily include court-approved and administratively ordered contributions from environmental enforcement settlements.

Penal Code Section 14314 provides for disbursement of account funds as follows:

  • 25% or $100,000, whichever is less, to the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards & Training, which may decline all or part of the funds, with any funds so declined going to the Secretary for re-allocation for environmental enforcement training of peace officers; and
  • The remaining balance to the Secretary for grants related to environmental enforcement, education and training

Grants to public and private entities are awarded once a year, but only when there is an amount of at least $100,000 in the account. Grant amounts vary annually.

Grant Cycle

CalEPA intends to operate on the following cycle:

March 1                      Announce availability of funds to disburse under the program

March 1- March 31      Applications for discretionary grants accepted

May                            Grant applicants notified

July 1 – June 30        Grants in effect

Who May Apply

When funds are available, grants may be awarded to public entities and private nonprofit organizations for training public prosecutors, investigators, and staff of community-based organizations, among others, in the investigation and enforcement of environmental laws, and to further support the Environmental Circuit Prosecutor Grant Program. Local environmental regulators may request local assistance grants to assist in the investigation and enforcement of environmental laws, based upon a showing of substantial need and a lack of other available funding sources. Individuals and those entities made ineligible by SB 157 are not eligible to receive grants.

Applications

Applications for the current grant cycle can be downloaded here.

Questions

For questions regarding the grant process or making contributions to the fund, please contact EETAGrantApps@calepa.ca.gov.