Welcome to the Department of Pesticide Regulation

EJ Strategic and Implementation Planning

Back to Environmental Justice Home Page

Sign up to receive e-mail updates on DPR’s environmental justice activities.

DPR is committed to working with other government agencies, communities, advocacy groups, regulated industries, and other interested parties to ensure environmental justice (EJ). To accomplish this, DPR has focused on incorporating EJ in its programs and activities.

For example, in 2008, DPR revised its departmental Strategic Plan (PDF, 235 kb) and among its five goals is, “Ensure environmental justice—All Californians, regardless of race, age, culture, income, or geographic location, are protected from adverse environmental and health effects of pesticides.” Objectives to accomplish the goal are:

  • Accord the highest respect and value to every individual and community by developing and conducting programs, policies, and activities in a manner that promotes equity and affords fair treatment, accessibility, and protection for all Californians, regardless of race, age, culture, income, or geographic location.
  • Develop and ensure execution of DPR’s EJ Strategy and Implementation Plan.
  • Ensure that DPR’s EJ Strategy and Implementation Plan address current and emerging challenges through consultation with stakeholders.
  • Maintain transparency and effectiveness in public participation through the use of advisory committees, workshops, and other forums

Among other initiatives to integrate EJ principles into its core programs, DPR has taken steps to ensure public participation; to strengthen field enforcement; to make its decision making more transparent and understandable; and to reduce risk and conduct outreach to workers and others that may be impacted by pesticide use.

Update on Environmental Justice Planning, May 2008 letter from DPR Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam (PDF, 63 kb)

EJ Planning Advisory Group – Agendas, minutes, and recommendations from meetings DPR had in  2006-2007 with an informal advisory EJ advisory group

Background information
  • "Community Perspectives on How DPR’s Regulatory Program Should Be Improved to Address Gaps That Impede Achievement of Environmental Justice" (PDF, 150 kb) – a November 2004 summary of programmatic gaps identified by persons attending DPR’s EJ dialogue sessions held earlier in 2004
  • Operational plans guide DPR branches on activities they plan to complete in the coming year, including those that address environmental justice concerns
  • DPR Strategic Plan (PDF, 234 kb)


For content questions contact:
Paul Verke
1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015
Sacramento, CA 95812-4015
Telephone: (916) 445-3974
E-mail: pverke@cdpr.ca.gov or ejustice@cdpr.ca.gov