Barbara Zavala

California Environmental Protection Agency

In 1991, California's environmental authority was unified in a single Cabinet level agency—the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). Our mission is to restore, protect and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality and economic vitality. We fulfill our mission by developing, implementing and enforcing the state's environmental protection laws that regulate clean air, clean water, clean soil, safe pesticides and waste recycling and reduction. Our departments are at the forefront of environmental science, using cutting-edge research to shape the state's environmental laws. The Office of the Secretary heads CalEPA and is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of one office, two boards, and three departments dedicated to improving California's environment: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Air Resources Board State Water Resources Control Board Department of Pesticide Regulation Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery Department of Toxic Substances Control