Description
The Environmental Affairs Agency was formed through a series of executive actions in the 1970s, in order to maintain and enforce
existing environmental laws in California. The records of the Environmental Affairs Agency contain 22.5 cubic feet of textual
and photographic records spanning the time period 1972-1992. They document the agency's work to maintain and enforce state
environmental laws, provide environmental policy advice to the Governor, and protect the quality of the environment for the
health of California's citizens.
Background
The Environmental Affairs Agency was formed through a series of executive actions in the 1970s, in order to maintain and enforce
existing environmental laws in California. The agency played an integral part in the development of California's environmental
policies, some of which were the first of their kind nationwide. However, the agency was never formally established in statute,
and its haphazard development reflected the fragmented nature of California's early environmental policies. Beginning in
the 1950s, environmental programs were created by statute and focused on singular issues, like air pollution. These programs
were scattered throughout a variety of different agencies, which presented a significant obstacle in implementing a comprehensive
environmental plan for the state. In 1961, Governor Pat Brown reorganized the executive branch of California's government
and placed all existing environmental quality programs, commissions and departments within the Resources Agency. Created
to improve California's natural resources through careful use and conservation, the formation and organization of the Resources
Agency marked the first attempt to consolidate the state's environmental programs.A. Thomas Quinn, 1975-1979Gordon Duffy, 1983-1985James M. Strock, 1991-1994
Extent
22.5 cubic feet of textual records
Restrictions
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
Availability
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.