Environmental Defense Center

SINCE 1977 WE HAVE EMPOWERED COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. OUR PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDE CLIMATE AND ENERGY, OPEN SPACE AND WILDLIFE, CLEAN WATER AND SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL. WE PRIMARILY WORK WITHIN SANTA BARBARA, VENTURA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES. EDC IS ORGANIZED AS A SEC. 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT CORPORATION, AND PROVIDES LEGAL COUNSEL TO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. WE REMAIN THE ONLY SUCH PUBLIC INTEREST ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FIRM BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO, AND THRIVE ON THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM WITHIN OUR REGION AND BEYOND.

SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL (ISSUES REGARDING OCEAN WATER QUALITY, CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND MARINE SANCTUARY, OFFSHORE OIL AND WIND DEVELOPMENT, MARINE MAMMALS AND OTHER WILDLIFE, MARINE PROTECTED AREAS [MPAS]): SERVED AS THE CONSERVATION REPRESENTATIVE ON THE CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL AND CHAIRED THE CONSERVATION WORKING GROUP; CO-CHAIRED THE SANTA BARBARA MPA COLLABORATIVE; OBTAINED APPROVAL BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION TO EXPAND AREAS TO BE AVOIDED AND EXTEND SHIPPING LANES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SHIP STRIKES ON WHALES; WORKED TO REDUCE IMPACTS OF SHIP STRIKES THROUGH VESSEL SPEED REDUCTIONS; PREVAILED IN LITIGATION (COURT OF APPEALS) PROHIBITING FRACKING FROM PLATFORMS OFFSHORE CALIFORNIA; ADVOCATED FOR INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS IN THE UPDATED CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN; SUPPORTED DESIGNATION OF THE PROPOSED CHUMASH HERITAGE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY; SOUGHT THOROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF OFFSHORE WIND LEASING; COMMENTED ON MPA DECADAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW; COMMENTED ON THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION'S PERMITTING ROADMAP FOR OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS.

CLEAN WATER (POLLUTED DISCHARGES, STORMWATER RUNOFF, SAFE DRINKING WATER): REACHED SETTLEMENT REQUIRING CITY OF LOMPOC TO AVOID TOXIC DISCHARGES IN THE SANTA MARIA RIVER SYSTEM; PREVENTED FRACKING FROM OFFSHORE PLATFORMS; OPPOSED PROPOSED AQUIFER EXEMPTION THAT THREATENS DRINKING WATER FOR 150,000 RESIDENTS OF NORTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

OPEN SPACE AND WILDLIFE PRESERVATION (ISSUES REGARDING ENDANGERED SPECIES, HABITATS, WATERSHEDS, AGRICULTURAL AND OPEN SPACE LANDS): OPPOSED CITY OF SOLVANG'S APPLICATION TO DRILL NEW WELLS THAT THREATEN ENDANGERED STEELHEAD IN THE SANTA YNEZ RIVER; FILED LAWSUIT CHALLENGING U.S. FOREST SERVICE'S APPROVAL OF LOGGING PROJECT AT REYES PEAK IN THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST; RECEIVED FAVORABLE RULING IN THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS DIRECTING THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND SANTA MARIA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT TO OPERATE TWITCHELL DAM IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT; SUPPORTED GOLETA MEASURE B TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CREEK RESTORATION; SUBMITTED SCOPING COMMENTS REGARDING THE FOREST SERVICE'S PROPOSED "ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION" LOGGING PROJECT; SETTLED CASE INVOLVING HOUSING PROJECT TO PROTECT LOS CARNEROS CREEK AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE HABITATS; CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PRESERVE NAPLES AND MORE MESA; CONVINCED SANTA BARBARA COUNTY LAFCO TO DENY PRE-ANNEXATION PROPOSAL THREATENING PRIME FARMLAND WEST OF LOMPOC; CONTINUED LITIGATION IN SUPERIOR COURT TO DEFEND THE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA'S DENIAL OF THE RANCHO LA LAGUNA SUBDIVISION; LED CREEK SURVEYS AND CLEANUPS; WORKED TO SECURE RESTORATION FROM ILLEGAL DISKING ON THE GAVIOTA COAST.

CLIMATE AND ENERGY (ISSUES REGARDING OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, RENEWABLE ENERGY): DEFEATED EXXONMOBIL PROPOSAL TO RESTART OFFSHORE PLATFORMS AND TRUCK OIL; OPPOSED PROPOSAL TO RESTART DAMAGED PLAINS PIPELINE; WON NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS DECISION PROHIBITING FRACKING FROM OFFSHORE PLATFORMS; INVESTIGATED APPLICATION OF GENERAL CONSERVATION PLAN FOR OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY; COMMENTED ON THE BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT'S DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REGARDING PLATFORM DECOMMISSIONING; OPPOSED PROPOSED AQUIFER EXEMPTION THAT THREATENS DRINKING WATER FOR 150,000 RESIDENTS OF NORTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.