Case History

Gaviota Coast, Santa Barbara County. © 2008, Aroyan

Since 1977, EDC has been winning victories for the local environment and the public interest in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.  Learn more about EDC’s history by downloading our 30th Anniversary Case Docket, produced in 2007. 

A review of some of our key successes provides an overview of the depth and breadth of EDC’s work to protect wildlife, open space, human health, and the coastline of our tri-county area.

In the 1970’s, EDC:

• Represented groups opposed to Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
• Helped defeat the proposed liquefied natural gas facility at Point Conception
• Forced Vandenberg Air Force Base to comply with federal environmental review laws regarding waste disposal, road construction and monitoring

In the 1980’s, EDC:

• Successfully stopped the expansion of the Petrochem Oil Refinery in Ventura County and established state precedent requiring local agencies to consider cumulative air quality impacts
• Established a legal precedent requiring land use agencies to consider alternative sites for development (Hyatt) and established a $5 million land trust
• Preserved open space at Mackie Mountain and forced the County to amend its General Plan to protect groundwater resources
• Established precedent of requiring traffic fees to mitigate project impacts
• Preserved the 5,000 acre Burton Mesa Chaparral
• Saved Taylor Ranch from development
• Convinced the County of Santa Barbara to adopt strict policies for offshore oil and gas development
• Protected open space and public access at Oxnard Shores
• Saved the Arroyo Burro Trail and Hammonds Beach access from closure
• Ensured the closure of the Casmalia toxic waste dump
• Defeated ARCO’s attempt to install three new platforms off the coast of UCSB

In the 1990’s, EDC:

• Helped preserve the Wilcox property (Douglas Family Preserve), Sedgwick Ranch and Carpinteria Bluffs
• Defeated the Mobil Clearview oil project at Elwood
• Convinced the National Park Service to protect natural resources at Santa Rosa Island
• Required the University of California to mitigate impacts from its proposed long range development plan
• Helped stop development of a massive landfill in Ojai
• Secured the protection of dozens of endangered and threatened plant and animal species, including the red-legged frog, tidewater goby, fairy shrimp, Channel Island plants, maritime chaparral plants, southwestern arroyo toad, southwestern willow flycatcher, California tiger salamander, and western snowy plover
• Forced EPA to establish an air quality plan for Ventura County
• Developed and lead a public education effort regarding the health and environmental harm caused by methyl bromide
• Launched the Central Coast Environmental Health Project, providing pesticide awareness education in the tri-counties
• Defeated the Isla Vista seawall
• Required lead paint warnings and removal in local rental housing
• Convinced the Coastal Commission to reject the North Coast Area Plan, leading to the permanent preservation of the East-West Ranch in Cambria and forestalling
• Hearst’s development plans at San Simeon
• Assisted Sen. O’Connell in drafting and passing the California Coastal Sanctuary Act, permanently banning oil and gas leasing in state waters
• Drafted Measure A96, which requires voter approval of any new oil and gas facilities in Santa Barbara County
• Obtained wetlands protection for flood control projects along the Santa Ynez River
• Drafted anti-State Water ballot measures in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
• Helped protect Ventura River from flood control and diversion proposals
• Convinced Congress to study options for protecting the Gaviota Coast
• Sued to challenge Kendall-Jackson’s removal of 850 oak trees, drafted Measure K and worked with County to develop better protections for oak trees

Since 2000, EDC has:

• Won litigation challenging the Newhall Ranch project in Ventura
• Achieved additional protection for Wild and Scenic Rivers in the tri-counties
• Achieved additional mitigation for development projects in San Luis Obispo County
• Protected oak woodlands in northern San Luis Obispo County
• Led the state-wide legal fight against federal offshore oil leases
• Launched the Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper
• Secured additional protection for snowy plovers in Santa Barbara County, and sued for enhanced protection at Oceano Dunes
• Sued one of the worst polluters in the state, the Halaco plant in Ventura County
• Achieved additional protection for Mission Creek from proposed development and flood control projects
• Stopped the proposed Cabrillo Port liquefied natural gas terminal, which would’ve been one of the largest air polluters in Ventura County
• Protected the San Luis Obispo County coast from unfettered development at the Hearst Ranch