Lawsuit Filed to Protect Water Quality

EDC has joined forces with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to file a lawsuit challenging the failure of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to comply with a court order on stormwater pollution, issued more than ten years ago. The original court order was the result of a lawsuit, EDC v. EPA, that EDC and NRDC won in 2003. This suit, like the last one, seeks to strengthen standards to prevent pollution from stormwater, one of the nation’s most widespread forms of water pollution.  In particular, the lawsuit targets stormwater pollution from small municipalities (serving populations under 100,000) and forest roads. To learn more, check out our factsheet and petition

On December 16, the Goleta City Council voted to take the first step towards phasing out the Ellwood Onshore Facility (EOF), an aging facility that processes oil and gas from Platform Holly. The EOF was rezoned from Industrial to Recreational use in 1991 because it poses threats to the surrounding area, including Ellwood Mesa, Sandpiper Golf Course, Bacara Resort Hotel, residential communities, and Ellwood School. In response to concerns raised by EDC and our clients, as well as many local residents, the City agreed to conduct a study to determine an appropriate termination date for the EOF. In doing so, the City noted that the preferred location for oil and gas processing is at the County-designated consolidated facility in Las Flores Canyon. Meet EDC’s New Executive Committee Members

We are pleased to announce the recent election of members of the Executive Committee of our Board of Directors.  Effective January 1, the officers of our board will be Lee Heller, President, Alicia Roessler, Vice President, Judy Pirkowitsch, Treasurer, and Angela Antenore, Secretary.  We would also like to thank former Board President, Peter Schuyler, for his years of leadership and are very thankful he will continue to assist the organization as a board member as we launch into another year of critical work protecting the environment of the south central coast.

Thanks to two long-time supporters, Yvon Chouinard and Dan Emmett, EDC has a unique challenge to raise an extra $50,000! Your new or increased gift from now through December 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Yvon and Dan, in honor of our Chief Counsel, Linda Krop’s, 25 years of environmental advocacy at EDC and to ensure the next 25 years of critical work from the organization. Please help us reach our goal!