Environmental Justice

Environmental justice is fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no population bears a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or from the execution of federal, state, and local laws; regulations; and policies. Meaningful involvement requires effective access to decision makers for all, and the ability in all communities to make informed decisions and take positive actions to produce environmental justice for themselves.

The North Coast Regional Water Board is committed to Environmental Justice.  With meaningful involvement in mind, Regional Water Board staff conducts outreach to stakeholders and disadvantaged communities in the north coast region to provide opportunities to participate in decision making to the greatest degree possible and to provide technical and compliance assistance to small, disadvantaged communities that lack sufficient resources to consistently meet permit requirements and policies directives. Since 2016, Regional Water Board staff has assisted disadvantaged communities in obtaining public funding for construction of permanent and sustainable wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems to better protect water quality and public health.

Human Right to Water

Access to water and sanitation are recognized as human rights, reflecting the fundamental nature of these basics in every person’s life. Lack of access to safe, sufficient and affordable water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has a devastating effect on the people’s health, dignity and prosperity, and has significant consequences for the realization of other human rights.

Regional Water Board staff have developed a Groundwater Protection Strategy, to support basin-specific groundwater quality assessment and protection efforts. Issues addressed by this strategy include need for assessment of groundwater quality (including shallow groundwater), recycled water use for irrigation, and the discharge of waste to land. This effort particularly serves to protect water users of individual or small groundwater supply systems located in disadvantaged communities. The Regional Water Board also affirmed the human right to water as a core value in 2019 (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/board_decisions/adopted_orders/pdf/2019/19_0024_NCRP_Resolution.pdf).

Assistance to Disadvantaged Communities

The North Coast Regional Water Board staff conducts an annual region-wide analysis to determine which counties and communities in the region are considered small and disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged and facing financial hardship. These descriptors are often used by funding entities to determine grant eligibility. Regional Water Board staff have been using the information gained to prioritize compliance assistance in various core regulatory programs, to facilitate grant and loan applications, and to expedite settlement negotiation in enforcement proceedings.

Environmental Complaint

We accept environmental complaints showing water quality discharges and threats via the CalEPA Complaints System. That system enables Water Boards staff to effectively track and respond to complaints and it provides a mechanism for complainants to follow-up with staff regarding their complaint. To submit a complaint, please click the following hyperlink:

https://calepa.my.salesforce-sites.com/complaints/

Racial Equity

The North Coast Regional Water Board adopted a Racial Equity Resolution on February 2, 2023. This was followed by the Racial Equity Action Plan which was presented before the Board on April 1, 2025.

Contact RB1-Equity@waterboards.ca.gov for more information. Or visit the Racial Equity webpage.