Environmental Enforcement and Training Grants

Current Status of Grant Availability

2022 Notice of Funding Availability

The Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) invites applications for environmental enforcement, training, or circuit prosecutor grants under Penal Code sections 14306 through 14309 for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Applications for funding may be submitted from March 1 through April 1, 2022. To submit an application, please email your application to EETAGrantApps@calepa.ca.gov. Please see below for a link to the current application.

Based on the balance in the Environmental Enforcement and Training Account as of March 1, 2022, the Secretary anticipates having a total of $183,585 available to fund environmental enforcement, training, and circuit prosecutor grants under Penal Code sections 14300 et seq. and California Code of Regulations, title 27, sections 10011 et seq. The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training has declined all of the funds allocated to it pursuant to Penal Code section 14314(a), so 25% of the current fund balance, or $45,896 is available for peace officer training projects. The Secretary will provide an updated estimate of the available amount of funds for FY 2022-2023 on April 1, 2022.

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

The program normally operates on the following annual cycle:

March 1 Announce availability of funds to disburse under the program

March 1- April 1 Applications for discretionary grants accepted

Early 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

CalEPA is accepting applications for the 2022-23 grant cycle until April 1, 2022.

Download the application and instructions here: 2022 Grant Application.

Questions

Questions concerning the grant process or making a contribution to this fund may be directed to EETAGrantApps@calepa.ca.gov.