California Air Resources Board

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) first convened the Community Air Protection Consultation Group (Consultation Group) in January 2018, to advise CARB on the development and implementation of the statewide strategy to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden, known as the Program Blueprint.

CARB’s Community Air Protection Program (Program) was established in response to Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (C. Garcia, Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017) which requires CARB to develop and update the Program Blueprint every five years. The Consultation Group advised CARB in the development of the Program Blueprint which was adopted by the CARB Board in September 2018, and in the development of Blueprint 2.0, which was adopted in October 2023. Throughout 2018 to 2023, the Consultation Group played a significant role in informing the development of CARB’s statewide strategies through its discussions and deliberations with CARB and through the People’s Blueprint, authored by environmental justice leaders represented on the Consultation Group. Between 2018 and 2023, Consultation Group membership participation declined as members resigned.  In March of 2023, CARB dissolved the Consultation Group and began preparations to fulfill its commitment in Blueprint 2.0 to reinvigorate the Consultation Group. Goal 1, Priority Action 4, in Blueprint 2.0 commits CARB to reinvigorate the Consultation Group to ensure an effective governing structure in support of Program implementation.

CARB Advisory Committee Transparency Requirements - October 2022

CARB Now Seeking Applicants to Serve on The Community Air Protection Consultation Group – Application Deadline November 15, 2024

CARB is seeking applicants to serve on the reinvigorated Consultation Group to advise on its implementation of the Program and the ambitious goals in Blueprint 2.0. This statewide strategy calls for CARB and air districts to meet commitments to the  19 communities currently in the Program while also bringing benefits to more communities overburdened by air pollution.

• Apply Here (click this link to be taken to the application portal): Consultation Group Member Application

Application Deadline: Member applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, Friday, November 15, 2024, through the application portal (use the application link above). Applicants should plan and allow enough time to read through and complete the application prior to the application deadline. For more information on how to prepare and to apply,  visit the 2024 Request for Member Applications page.

Consultation Group (2018-2023) information - includes meeting summaries, agendas, and background materials from meetings of the Consultation Group between 2018 through 2023.

Assessment Report of the Consultation Group - February 2022– This report provides summarized findings of focused interviews of Consultation Group members conducted by the Sacramento State University Consensus and Collaboration Program. The purpose of this assessment was to develop an understanding of the Consultation Group dynamics, identify the sources and nature of tensions and/or challenges within the Consultation Group, and explore possible process design solutions to assist the Consultation Group to productively move forward.

Questions or Need More Information? Please email: AB617CG@arb.ca.gov.