CalEPA Environmental Enforcement and Training Grant

The CalEPA Environmental Enforcement and Training Grant supports public entities and nonprofit organizations in enhancing environmental law enforcement through training and investigation. Funded by the Environmental Enforcement Training Account, grants target training for prosecutors, peace officers, and local regulators. Eligibility includes public entities and nonprofits, with a preference for organizations that haven't previously received funding. Ineligible projects are those inconsistent with CalEPA's mission, and individuals cannot apply. Overall, the program aims to strengthen environmental law enforcement across California.

Background
Penal Code section 14300 et seq. established the Environmental Enforcement and Training Account, which funds the Environmental Enforcement Training Grant Program (Grant Program) and the Environmental Circuit Prosecutor Grant Program administered by the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the Grant Program is to provide financial assistance for environmental enforcement, investigation, and training programs that enhance statewide enforcement of environmental laws. The Secretary may award grants:
To public entities and private nonprofit organizations for training public prosecutors, peace officers, firefighters, state or local environmental regulators, and community-based organizations in the investigation and enforcement of environmental laws;
To local environmental regulators for the enforcement of environmental laws;
For the costs of prosecutors, investigators, and research attorneys for circuit prosecution; and/or
For peace officer training funded by monies declined by the Commission under Penal Code section 14314, subdivision (a).
The actual amount of grant funding available depends on the amount of money deposited into the Environmental Enforcement and Training Account from settlements and other contributions in preceding fiscal years and appropriated by the Legislature.

Eligibility

Grants may be awarded to public entities and private nonprofit organizations for training public prosecutors, investigators, and staff of community-based organizations, among others, in the investigation and enforcement of environmental laws, and to further support the Environmental Circuit Prosecutor Grant Program.Local environmental regulators may request local assistance grants to assist in the investigation and enforcement of environmental laws, based upon a showing of substantial need and a lack of other available funding sources.

Ineligibility

Applications proposing projects inconsistent with CalEPA’s statutory authority or mission are ineligible for funding.Individuals are not eligible to receive grants.Grant funds cannot be used for lobbying or intervention in state or federal regulatory proceedings.Grant funds cannot be used for matching state or federal funding.