Mission and Objectives
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 | Enforcement and Emergency Response are core programs of DTSC's mission to protect public health and the environment. Inspection, monitoring, training, and investigative activities secure effective, measurable levels of compliance with state and federal hazardous waste laws and regulations. The department's enforcement program provides a credible deterrent to polluters and incentives to achieve a greater level of compliance with hazardous waste laws and regulations. Read more about our mission and objectives. |
Enforcement and Emergency Response Program Focus
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 | Environmental Justice
The mission of EERP's Environmental Justice Enforcement Initiative is to identify and address public health and environmental impacts in environmental justice communities and ensure the public and stakeholders are involved, empowered, and informed regarding their environmental justice issues, concerns, and enforcement. Learn more about environmental justice.
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 | Compliance Assistance and Enforcement
EERP monitors hazardous waste handlers, transfer, storage, treatment, and disposal facilities for illegal activity; including monitoring of registered hazardous waste haulers; and takes appropriate action against violaters of the hazardous waste requirements that are found through routine inspections, complaint investigations, and focused enforcement initiatives. Learn more about compliance assistance and enforcement.
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 | Office of Criminal Investigations
The mission of the Office of Criminal Investigations is to prevent and investigate violations of California's Hazardous Waste Control Laws for the safety of the public and protection of the environment. Learn more about the Office of Criminal Investigations.
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 | Emergency Response
The Emergency Response Program's mission is to provide maximum protection of public health and the environment from acute exposure to hazardous materials by conducting timely, effective, and efficient emergency response actions. Learn more about our Emergency Response Program.
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 | Universal and Electronic Waste
Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are generated by a wide variety of people that contain mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, and other substances hazardous to human and environmental health. In general, universal waste may not be discarded in solid waste landfills. Examples of these wastes are batteries, fluorescent tubes, and some electronic devices. The best way to reduce the harmful effects of the wastes on human health and the environment is to reduce consumption. The next best thing is to make sure you DON'T throw them in the trash! Learn more about universal waste. |
| Notify DTSC of e-waste handling and recycling by using our online notification system. Here you can file a notice of intent to handle or recycle, an annual report, or an export notification. Annual reports are due February 1 of each year for all facilities, including collection events. Learn more about electronic waste or file online.
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 | Financial Assurance
The Enforcement and Emergency Response Program conducts a financial assurance activity that assures commercial hazardous waste management facilities have adequate financial resources to cover both sudden accidental liability and the long term costs of facility closure. Learn more about financial assurance.
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Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)
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 | The Enforcement and Emergency Response Program oversees technical implementation of the state's Unified Program -- a consolidation of six environmental programs at the local level, and conducts triennial reviews of Unified Program agencies to ensure their programs are consistent statewide, conform to standards, and deliver quality environmental protection at the local level. Learn more about CUPAs.
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Imperial and Trinity County CUPA (under construction)
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 | On January 1, 2005, DTSC was authorized by the Cal/EPA as the Imperial County and Trinity County CUPA. The main objective of the Certified Unified Program is to combine and coordinate six formerly separate elements into a single program, under the regulation of a single agency. This makes it simpler for businesses to comply with hazardous waste regulations that protect public health, safety, and the environment.
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File an Environmental Complaint
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 | If you are reporting a crime in progress, please call 911.
If you wish to report an incident involving improper handling of hazardous waste, you can contact your local CUPA County Agency or contact DTSC's Hazardous Waste Alert Hotline at 800-698-6942 or electronically file an environmental complaint.
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| For calls regarding MOLD: Contact:
California Department of Public Health, Indoor Air Quality or your local Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA).
For calls regarding SEWER OVERFLOWING:
Contact: State Water Resources Control Board or your local publicly owned treatment works found in the Government pages of your local phone book.
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Success Stories
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 | We are currently updating our success stories.
Each success story presented was a facility that was inspected and DTSC inspectors found numerous hazardous waste violations. The facilities have worked with DTSC to bring the facility into compliance with the laws and regulations governing hazardous waste.
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