The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment (CRPE) is a California-based nonprofit organization founded in 1989 that provides legal support to grassroots groups in environmental justice communities.

Co-founder Luke Cole provided legal and technical assistance to attorneys and community groups addressing environmental issues nationwide and was the Executive Director of the CRPE until he died in 2009.

Abascal contributed by advising other attorneys and participating in over 200 court and administrative cases related to environmental justice issues affecting marginalized communities.

[12][13] The Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment has participated in legal cases addressing environmental issues in impacted communities, including: The proposed expansion of the Chemical Waste Management hazardous waste landfill in Kettleman City, California, drew opposition from local advocacy groups, such as the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment (CRPE) and El Pueblo Para El Aire y Agua Limpio, due to concerns about potential environmental and health impacts on the surrounding community.

[21][22][23][24][25] CRPE and other organizations filed a lawsuit against the district, claiming it allowed industrial sources to increase pollution levels in the San Joaquin Valley.