IVAN Network Online

IVAN Online is a web tool and reporting number that allows residents to report and monitor the progress of environmental complaints submitted in their community. A key component of IVAN Online is the Google Earth mapping system that displays in real-time the location of where the environmental concerns occurred. The map provides the public with spatial and temporal visual of the complaints submitted on IVAN Online that they can easily refer to.

IVAN Online is a community-based environmental monitoring system, which means that, unlike other government complaint systems, all environmental reports submitted on IVAN Online are publicly archived. This provides a certain level of transparency to community members that allows the Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN) to contact the proper environmental protection agency aligned with the environmental concern. IVAN Online is also a great resource to residents interested in receiving daily alerts to environmental concerns in their community.

No, IVAN Online is simply a community-based complementary environmental monitoring system that works closely with the current environmental government complaint system. IVAN Online strives to empower residents, especially from disadvantaged communities that due to cultural and language barrier might not report an environmental concern through the current government complaint system.

Yes, there is a benefit of doing both, especially for time sensitive environmental concerns such as air pollution or pesticide exposure. If you feel comfortable contacting the respective government agency it might help speed up the investigation process. However, if you do not feel comfortable IVAN will try it best to address the concern in a timely matter.

It is important to revisit you IVAN report to see the status of your complaint. There is a section on each report titled, “Administration Notes” where you can view the notes posted by the problem-solver and track complaint resolutions.

The Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN) and Comite Civico del Valle (CCV) are responsible for managing and maintaining the technical support for all the IVAN Online websites.

Each individual IVAN Online mapping system reflects the environmental concerns submitted with their defined jurisdiction. For example, if a report from a neighboring community in Tulare is submitted on Tulare-IVAN Online there will still be a mechanism in place and guarantee that CCEJN will be able to get in contact with the proper regulatory authority to deal with the reported environmental concern.

Not to worry, our goal with IVAN is to make reporting environmental violations as simple as possible. You can submit your environmental concern by calling (559 316-5414). And you will find the number at the submit a report page.

Once a report is submitted on IVAN Online it is reviewed by CCEJN and posted on IVAN-Online website. CCEJN takes action and forwards the report to the proper environmental regulatory agencies that are responsible for responding to the environmental violation/concern. Each month pending old and new reports are discussed at a monthly public meeting called the Environmental Justice Enforcement Taskforce (EJET) Meeting.

An IVAN Online report takes approximately 4 hours to be displayed on the website. Please return back to the website within 24 hours to review the status of your report.

The reports that are submitted on IVAN Online are first reviewed by the problem-solver and then discussed by the EJET during their monthly meetings. The Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN) is the organization responsible for addressing reports submitted to IVAN Tulare.

It is advised but not necessary to include their contact information because it allows the CCEJN the ability to ask further questions that can help in the solving process of the environmental concern. The only person that is allowed to see your contact information for the sole purpose of following up with further questions is the locally based organization unless permission is given by the reporter to do otherwise.

Each IVAN has an Environmental Justice Enforcement Taskforce (EJET), which is a group of dedicated community members and various environmental agency representatives that convene once a month to review and discuss environmental reports submitted on IVAN Online, as well as other environmental concerns brought forth by the community.

The Environmental Justice Enforcement Taskforce (EJET) is an essential part of IVAN. It provides a benefit to both environmental regulatory agencies and the community members that participate. For example, environmental complaints often require the involvement of multiple environmental regulatory agencies because the reported complaint is not just a water issues, but also a soil and air concern. These meetings provide a space for cross-sectional dialogue between these environmental regulatory agencies with the presence and input of the public. Another benefit is allowing residents who are the eyes and ears of the community speak one-on-one with individual that can help solve these environmental concerns. The shared knowledge and relationship building that occurs between residents and environmental regulatory agencies during these meetings are a key aspect of IVAN.

The problem-solver(s) is/are responsible for reviewing, forwarding, and update the progress of environmental concerns submitted on IVAN Online. They are also in charge of facilitating EJET meetings. In Tulare County, CCEJN acts as the local problem-solver and administrator of the IVAN Reporting Network.

The community chair act as a liaison between partnering non-profits, environmental regulatory agencies, the local community, and the Environmental Justice Enforcement Taskforce (EJET). The community-chair can take on a variety of roles depending on the needs of the EJET, such as organizing Toxic Bus Tours and Cleanup Days. CCEJN is the community chair for the IVAN EJET in Tulare County.

The IVAN Network has a variety of government agency partnerships. Some government agencies that are currently participating in the IVAN Network are: Department of Toxic Substances Control, Regional Water Quality Control Board; California Air Resource Board (CARB); California Environmental Protection Agencies (CalEPA); the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD); the Tulare County Environmental Department; the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner, among others.