CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the complete restoration of the Chicago Department of the Environment (DOE), in the final step of the process: the transfer of environmental regulatory authority to the department.
“The Department of the Environment needs to be strong and efficient to protect the most vulnerable communities from pollution, strengthen neighborhoods’ climate resilience, and build a healthier city for all,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Today, after extensive interagency and community collaboration, the DOE is fully prepared to fulfill that mission.”
A process that took several years
The Department of Environment had been dissolved in 2011. Since then, communities and organizations have consistently called for its reinstatement to strengthen environmental protection in the city.
In response, Mayor Johnson initiated the restoration process during the 2024 budget. That budget formally reestablished the department and moved the Office of Climate and Environmental Equity to the new agency.
Official Angela Tovar assumed the additional role of DOE commissioner.
During 2024 and 2025, the department was progressively rebuilt with administrative, communication, project management and fund management functions.
In January 2025, planning began for the final stage: the return of regulatory and environmental remediation functions.
In March 2026, the first phase of the transfer began with the transfer of the environmental remediation team from the Fleet and Facilities Management Department. Today, the process is completed with the transfer of the permits and inspections team from the Public Health Department.
What will the new Department of the Environment do now?
With this consolidation, the city unifies all its environmental functions into a single entity.
The new areas are:
Environmental Remediation Office
- Evaluate the environmental compliance of municipal projects
- Clean up contaminated or underutilized land for reuse
- Analyzes environmental impacts of public projects under the NEPA law
Office of Environmental Permits and Inspection
- Grants permits for activities that may pollute air, soil or water (tanks, recycling plants, construction, etc.)
- Monitors compliance with permits
- It handles environmental requests from residents through the 311 system.
A focus on environmental justice
“The new department integrates policy, remediation, and enforcement into a single structure,” said Angela Tovar. “We are ready to strengthen environmental protection, transform contaminated land into productive spaces, and position Chicago as an environmental leader.”
Other departments will remain involved
The Chicago Department of Public Health will continue to play a key role, especially in air quality monitoring through the Open Air Chicago network, one of the largest in the country.
Commissioner Olusimbo Ige noted that environmental health remains a central priority.
Support from environmental organizations
Environmental groups celebrated the decision. The Illinois Environmental Council’s director of government affairs highlighted that this is an important step forward after years of activism to strengthen environmental protections in vulnerable communities.
What does this mean?
- Chicago once again has an environmental department with full regulatory power
- Functions are centralized to improve environmental monitoring and response
- Policies against urban pollution are being strengthened
- Increased focus on environmental justice and public health
Read article in Spanish / Leer artículo en español: https://elchicagohispano.com/anuncian-restauracion-completa-del-departamento-de-medio-ambiente/
