California Environmental Protection Agency

Infobox Government agency
agency_name = California Environmental Protection Agency
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logo_width = 140px
logo_caption = Logo of Cal/EPA


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formed = July 17, 1991
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dissolved =
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headquarters = 1001 I Street Sacramento, California
employees = 4,550 permanent staff
budget = $2.3 billion
chief1_name = Linda S. Adams
chief1_position = Secretary
chief2_name = Cindy Tuck
chief2_position = Undersecretary
parent_agency =
child1_agency = California Department of Toxic Substances Control
child2_agency = California Air Resources Board
website = http://www.calepa.ca.gov/
footnotes =

The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) is a state cabinet-level agency within the government of California. Cal/EPA is composed of six departments, boards and offices responsible for environmental research, regulating and administering the state's environmental protection programs, and fulfilling hazardous waste cleanup.

The current Secretary for Enviornmental Protection is Linda S. Adams, and is a member of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's cabinet. [cite web|url=http://www.calepa.ca.gov/About/Bios/|title=Executive Management|work=California Environmental Protection Agency|accessdate=2007-07-23]

Cal/EPA should not be confused with the similarly-named federal Environmental Protection Agency.

History

Cal/EPA was created by Governor Pete Wilson by Executive Order W-5-91 in 1991, following on a "Big Green" initiative Wilson proposed during the 1990 state gubernatorial elections, promising a cabinet-level agency to oversee state environmental regulations and research. [cite web|url=http://www.calepa.ca.gov/About/History01/calepa.htm|title=History|work=California Environmental Protection Agency|accessdate=2007-07-23] Following inter-agency reorganizations led by the governor with review by both houses of the California State Legislature, the agency became a cabinet department on July 17, 1991.

Cal/EPA, and its departmental California Air Resources Board, were one of the key supporters of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, making the state the first in the United States to cap all greenhouse gas emissions from major industries.

In June 2008, Cal/EPA announced that new global warming performance labels would be placed on all new cars effective on January 1, 2009. The stickers will provide two scores: a smog score and a global warming score with a grade from 1 to 10 assigned. The higher the grade, the more environmentally friendly the vehicle is. [cite web|url=http://thearticlewriter.com/autowriter/california-slaps-global-warming-performance-labels-on-new-cars/|title=California Slaps Global Warming Performance Labels On New Cars|work=The Auto Writer|accessdate=2008-07-15]

Departments

The following departments, boards and offices fall under Cal/EPA:

*Department of Toxic Substances Control
*Integrated Waste Management Board
*State Water Resources Board
*Air Resources Board
*Department of Pesticide Regulation
*Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

References

ee also

*United States Environmental Protection Agency
*Kyoto Protocol

External links

* [http://www.calepa.ca.gov/ California Environmental Protection Agency official website]
* [http://www.calepa.ca.gov/About/Bios/Adams.htm Environment Secretary Linda Adam's official website]