California Environmental Protection Agency Records, 1991-2002

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Summary

Creators:
California Environmental Protection Agency Records
Abstract:
The records of the California Environmental Protection Agency, or CalEPA, comprise 19 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records reflecting the work of the Secretary of Environmental Protection and the Secretary's role in overseeing the various units within the agency, including the Air Resources Board (ARB), Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB), Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and regional Water Quality Control Boards. The records cover the period from 1991-2002 and are organized into seven record series: Bill Files (1991-2002); Member Files (1997-1998); Chronological Files (1997-1998); Controlled Correspondence (1992-1996); Legislative Files (1997-1998); Proposed Legislation Files (2001-2002); and Federal Legislation Files (1991-1992). Found within the records are legislative analyses, correspondence, reports, member files, federal legislation pertaining to the duties of the CalEPA, CalEPA proposed legislation, memoranda, photographs, newspaper articles, journal articles, and press releases.
Extent:
19 cubic feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the California Environmental Protection Agency, or CalEPA, comprise 19 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records reflecting the work of the Secretary of Environmental Protection and the Secretary's role in overseeing the various units within the agency, including the Air Resources Board (ARB), Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB), Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and regional Water Quality Control Boards. The records cover the period from 1991-2002 and are organized into seven record series: Bill Files (1991-2002); Member Files (1997-1998); Chronological Files (1997-1998); Controlled Correspondence (1992-1996); Legislative Files (1997-1998); Proposed Legislation Files (2001-2002); and Federal Legislation Files (1991-1992). Found within the records are legislative analyses, correspondence, reports, member files, federal legislation pertaining to the duties of the CalEPA, CalEPA proposed legislation, memoranda, photographs, newspaper articles, journal articles, and press releases.

The Bill Files relate to such topics such as water quality, oil spills, funding, hazardous waste, energy and energy efficiency, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), public beaches, forest protection, petroleum and fuel, air and water pollution, cement kiln dust, permit streamlining, recycling, pesticide regulation, vehicular emissions, and greenhouse gases. The Member Files concern individual legislators from both the Assembly and Senate in the 1997-1998 session and their specific individual contributions to environmental protection legislation. Chronological Files include correspondence, reports, and memoranda from the 1997-1998 session. Controlled Correspondence include correspondence with constituents, lobbyists, other legislators, and professionals in fields relating to the legislation, implementation and enforcement of CalEPA programs and span from 1992-1996. Legislative Files document general legislation, hot bills, and legislative updates from the 1997-1998 session.

Further accruals are expected.

Biographical / historical:

During the administrations of Governor Pat Brown (1969-1967), Governor Ronald Reagan (1967-1975) and Governor Jerry Brown (1975-1983), it became increasingly clear that a statewide agency regarding environmental protection was needed as environmental issues permeated national and local headlines. In 1969, an oil spill in the Santa Barbara Channel prompted President Nixon to create the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 through his Reorganization Plan 3. While most states followed suit, an environmental agency for California followed a different pattern and was first created through a variety of state statutes and implemented through local and regional agencies. Soon it was clear that the haphazard and informal organization of the statutes required direction from a cabinet-level Secretary in order to be efficient.

Governor Jerry Brown's Executive Order B-2-75 in 1975 created the new post of Secretary of Environmental Affairs, who would facilitate communication between the governor and the various boards and departments that oversaw implementation of the various environmental laws. Tom Quinn, then the Chair of the Air Resources Board, was appointed the first Secretary of Environmental Affairs. Under Governor Deukmejian, the Environmental Affairs Agency began to take shape when legislation such as the California Clean Air Act, Integrated Waste Management Act, Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, Proposition 65 (1986), and Drinking Water Well Protection Act, among others, added new duties and functions to the Secretary's office. Although this environmental legislation formed the agency informally, the agency lacked statutory authority.

Pete Wilson campaigned for Governor in his 1990 with the promise to formally create a cabinet-level environmental agency as part of his "Big Green" initiative. In 1991, Governor Wilson proposed a reorganization plan that provided for the continuation of the programs formerly under the Environmental Affairs Agency, as well as additional programs, administered by the new Secretary for Environmental Protection. The Governor's Reorganization Plan went into effect in July 1991, and the Environmental Affairs Agency became the California Environmental Protection Agency. This new agency, or CalEPA as it became known, consisted of several departments and boards, including the Air Resources Board, Integrated Waste Management Board, State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. These seven boards and departments were all previously under the purview of the Environmental Affairs Agency, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Resources Agency, or the Department of Health Services.

The new CalEPA had several objectives, primarily to address activities, processes, and substances presenting the greatest public health threats and environmental risks. The CalEPA also sought to prevent pollution rather than control it, enforce state laws, hold other environmental programs accountable, reduce the overlapping and redundant agencies that previously had environmental protection under their purview, and mediate between environmental protection and economic progress. The CalEPA would be headed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection, appointed by the Governor along with three deputy secretaries who hold office "at the pleasure of the Secretary." Among other duties, the Secretary served as the principal advisor to the Governor on major policy and program matters regarding environmental protection, oversaw the departments and boards within the CalEPA, and served as the Chair of the Air Resources Board. The Secretary also served as the Governor's Outer Continental Shelf Policy Coordinator, administered the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Arbitration Panel, registered environmental assessors, and managed the Office of Hazardous Materials Data Management.

As of March 2012, CalEPA oversees the Air Resources Board (ARB), the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). CalEPA also oversees the Regional Water Quality Control Boards and the Integrated Waste Management Board.

Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the California Environmental Protection Agency Records according to state law.
Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
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