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ej -- New Online System Launched to Help Californians Report Environmental Problems

Posted: 02 May 2016 16:01:28
New Online System Launched to Help Californians Report
Environmental Problems. 

SACRAMENTO – The California Environmental Protection Agency
launched an online tool
(https://calepacomplaints.secure.force.com/complaints/) today
that makes it easier for the public to report environmental
problems anywhere in the state from their smartphones, tablets
and computers. 

“Community involvement is critical to our mission to protect
public health and the environment,” said Secretary for
Environmental Protection Matthew Rodriquez. “This new reporting
system empowers the public to take action when they suspect a
problem, and provides them with greater responsiveness,
transparency and accountability.” 

The new website takes the user through the process of reporting
an environmental problem, whether it’s related to air or water
pollution, hazardous or solid waste, or pesticides. The system
can identify the user’s location using GPS and allows them to
upload photo, video and other documentation of the suspected
hazard. The website is available in English and Spanish. 

When a report is submitted, it is routed to the appropriate state
or local agencies. CalEPA, along with its boards and departments,
works with more than 400 state and local agencies to enforce
environmental laws and regulations. If users provide an email
address, they will receive an update when their complaint is
referred and again when the complaint is closed. Users can also
file anonymous reports. 

The new website serves as an early warning system, alerting
enforcement agencies of potential environmental violations, and
providing witness accounts and documentation for investigations.
This helps CalEPA and our partners at the local level address and
resolve issues earlier, before they become bigger problems. 

CalEPA will continue to update the new system and is working
closely with IVAN Online (http://ivanonline.org/index.php), a
network of local environmental reporting systems that serves more
than half a dozen low-income communities across the state, to
coordinate the functions of the two systems. 

Luis Olmedo, director of Comite Civico Del Valle and founder of
the IVAN Network, said: "I applaud CalEPA for following through
on its commitment to modernize its reporting system. The
crowdsourcing technology is easy to use, and it will be
compatible with existing reporting networks like IVAN, which
makes it a powerful tool for environmental justice communities to
use." 

The new CalEPA system supports state and local environmental
enforcement efforts by providing a statewide tool that can ensure
environmental reports reach the proper authority, regardless of
the location or the type of pollution. It also assists
communities and agencies that may not have the resources to build
their own online systems. 

View the new CalEPA environmental reporting system at
https://calepacomplaints.secure.force.com/complaints/

For Immediate Release 

April 21, 2016 
Contact: Alex Barnum (alex.barnum@calepa.ca.gov), (916) 324-9670



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