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 publically archived. This provides a certain level of transparency to the environmental reporting process conducted by environmental agencies, such as the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards-Palm Desert. 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 complimentary environmental monitoring system that works closely with the current environmental government complaint system. IVAN Online strives to empower resident, especially from disadvantage community 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 concern such as air pollution. If you feel confortable contacting the respective government agency it might help speed up the investigation process. However, if you do not feel confortable 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.

Comite Civico del Valle (CCV) and other statewide partners 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 an report from a neighboring community, such as Baja-California Mexicali, is submitted on Imperial-IVAN Online there is presently no guarantee that the problem-solver will be able to get in contact with the proper regulatory authority to deal with the reported environmental concern therefore it might only appear on the website, but not result in any action. This is something that the IVAN Network is trying to improve so we still encourage you to submit a report.

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 (number).

Once a report is submitted on IVAN Online it is reviewed by the local acting problem-solver and posted on IVAN-Online website. The problem-solver then, “takes action” and forwards the report to the proper environmental regulatory agency that is responsible for responding to the environmental violation. Each month pending old and new reports are discussed at a 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

In many instances it is to the best interested of a reporter to include their contact information because it allows the problem-solver 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 acting problem-solver 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. Each EJET has a designated problem-solver, community chair, and government agency partnerships.

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 meeting provide a space for cross-sectional dialogue between these environmental regulatory agencies with the presence and input of the public. Another benefit is allowing resident 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 meeting 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 typically in charge of facilitating EJET meetings.

The community chair(s) 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.

The IVAN Network has a variety of government agency partnerships. Some government agencies that are currently participate in the IVAN Network are: Department of Toxic Substances Control, Regional Water Quality Control Board-Colorado River Basin, California Air Resource Board, California Environmental Protection Agencies (CalEPA), and South Coast Air Quality Management District.