Advocacy Resources
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How to Find Sources of Pollution in Your Neighborhood
Identifying sources of pollution in your neighborhood can be
a long and frustrating process. Specific information about polluters is widely
dispersed among a wide variety of federal, state, and local government agencies.
Much of this information can be found on Environmental Defense’s Scorecard
web site. We have developed a spreadsheet with links to a wide variety of
information about pollution sources and the adverse impacts of exposure to
environmental contamination:
Cumulative Impacts Data
Sources (MS-Excel)
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New homes under construction near a freeway. |
Direct links to detailed databases and other sources of information can be found at:
ARB Community Health
Air Pollution Information System (CHAPIS)
ARB Facility
Emissions Inventory Reports
AQMD Public Inquiry
System for Notices of Violations and Notices to Comply
AQMD
Title V Database
DTSC
Site Cleanup Project Documents
DTSC EnviroStor
Database
IWMB Solid
Waste Information System
LARWQCB
Spill, Leaks, Investigations and Cleanups Database
SWRCB Geotracker
Database
U.S.
EPA RCRAInfo Database
U.S. EPA Enforcement and
Compliance History Online Database
U.S.
EPA EnviroFacts
U.S.
EPA Toxic Release Inventory Explorer Database
Get Noticed!
Many people find it challenging to find out about proposals
that create environmental problems before it’s too late. Environmental
laws provide you an opportunity to force public agencies to tell you about their
proposals before they make environmental decisions. For decisions being made
by federal
agencies, use our National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) notice request
template. For decisions being made by state
or local agencies in California, use our California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) notice request template. To learn about and have an
opportunity to comment on proposed changes to regulations by state agencies in
California, use our notice of regulatory proposals template.
Access to Government Records
“. . . access to information concerning the conduct
of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every
person in this state.”
- The California Public Records Act
With few exceptions, everyone has the right to view and get
copies of federal and state government records, including documents, reports,
letters, memoranda, notes, e-mail, computer files, permits, maps, photographs,
audiotape, film, and videotape. You can get access to these records by filing
a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with a federal agency or a California
Public Records Act (CPRA) request with a state or local agency. Use our FOIA
and CPRA templates as a guide.
Key environmental
agencies in California include:
California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA)
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
Air Resources Board (ARB)
Local Air Pollution Control Districts and Air Quality Management Districts
Water Quality Control Board
Regional Water Quality Control Boards
Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB)
Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR)
Department of Health Services (DHS)
Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
Key agencies that deal with environmental issues in the
federal
government include:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Department of the Interior (DOI)
Department of Energy (DOE)
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Regional and local agencies that deal with environmental issues
include:
Association of Governments (COGs)
Council of Governments
County Boards of Supervisors
City Councils
Hazardous Materials Agencies (usually Fire Departments)
Planning Commissions
Helpful Documents
The following documents can be very helpful when advocating for environmental
health and justice:
ARB Public
Participation Guidebook (pdf, 504 kb)
DTSC Public
Participation Manual (pdf, 1.03 mb)
PCL Foundation Community
Guide to CEQA (available for sale on the PCL web site)
Environmental Justice Coalition E-Mail Discussion Group
Join our Environmental
Justice Coalition e-mail discussion group to learn more about environmental
justice issues and events in the Los Angeles region.
| Legal Advice Notice:
Please do not rely on anything on our website as legal advice. Any information
about legal issues that we have provided is designed to be general guidance
only. For assurance on how the law applies to your specific situation, you
should consult an attorney who can become thoroughly familiar with your
unique circumstances and who can research and advise you about the applicable
law at the federal, state, and local levels. |
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