Updates + News
Annual Report 2017
June 12, 2018
EPIC had some extraordinary accomplishments in 2017. Highlights include: defending wolf, marten, Pacific fisher and owl protections; thwarting a destructive railroad proposal; saving big trees and creeks from logging; litigating to protect Richardson Grove, and wild places in the Klamath region; petitioning to end the sale of invasive ivy, and the list goes on. But the most inspiring aspect of our work in the last year was connecting with our community in wild places to provide outdoor skill trainings for the next generation of community members to monitor projects in the field, lead outdoor hikes, and connect diverse communities with nature. read more >>
Pruitt Declares Biomass Carbon Neutral, Contrary to Facts
May 29, 2018
In a world no longer constrained by facts, Scott Pruitt is king. On April 23, 2018, Scott Pruit, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency declared that all biomass is carbon neutral. Pruitt’s sweeping declaration is not just inaccurate, but it will help further subsidize timber industry practices at the expense of our climate and our wallets. read more >>
Forest Carbon Plan Released
May 29, 2018
Governor Brown released his long-awaited “Forest Carbon Plan.” I’ll be blunt: the Plan is timber industry advocacy disguised as “science.” The Plan focuses almost exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions from fire—fire does emit greenhouse gases, but this is a smokescreen for the larger agenda: to cut down more trees. The Plan states that California needs to increase logging to both reduce the fire risk and to move carbon from trees to “long-lived forest products,” also known as wood. To be specific, Governor Brown is calling for doubling the land actively managed from 250,000 acres to 500,000 acres per year. read more >>
Court: Halt on Richardson Grove Highway Project to Stay in Place
May 29, 2018
The Humboldt County Superior Court has ruled that a lawsuit challenging Caltrans’ proposed highway widening through Richardson Grove State Park can continue, meaning the building of the destructive highway is still on hold. The lawsuit was filed in 2010 by the Environmental Protection Information Center, Center for Biological Diversity, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics and community members, to prevent a project that would needlessly damage or destroy thousand-year-old redwood trees. read more >>
Vote for a Greener Future
May 16, 2018
Voting season is upon us, and mail-in ballots are already out for the Statewide Direct Primary Election, which is June 5, 2018. EPIC is joining our sister environmental groups to support the passage of Proposition 68: the Parks, Environment, and Water Bond and Proposition 72: the Rainwater Capture Systems Excluded from Property Tax Assessments Amendment. read more >>
David Nathan “Gypsy” Chain Memorial Scholarship
May 16, 2018
This coming September will be twenty years since David Nathan “Gypsy” Chain lost his life while trying to prevent illegal logging in an Earth First! Action near Grizzly Creek in the Van Duzen River watershed. To mark this anniversary and remember an idealistic young man, we have established the David Nathan “Gypsy” Chain Memorial Scholarship. Administered by the Humboldt Area Foundation, this fund will provide an annual scholarship of $1,000 for a local high school student or first year student at Humboldt State University or College of the Redwoods who has demonstrated commitment to issues of forest ecology through volunteer or academic projects. read more >>
Last Chance Grade Project Update
May 16, 2018
The Redwood Highway, also known as Highway 101, is the main north-south arterial connection for North Coast residents and visitors alike. “Last Chance Grade” is a stretch of Highway 101 about ten miles south of Crescent City, which sits precariously above the Pacific Ocean. Built on an active landslide, the road has steadily slipped towards the Pacific Ocean, including a fairly substantial road failure in winter in 2017. In many areas, the road is no longer in its original alignment, having slipped further down the slope. The area that has experienced the greatest movement has moved 40’ horizontally and 30’ vertically so far. The question is not if the road will fail, but when and how badly. read more >>
EPIC Stops Tower in Redwood National Park
May 16, 2018
The Office of Emergency Services has heard our voices loud and clear, and has decided not to put an emergency communications tower in Redwood National Park. The initial proposal called for three towers ranging from 120 to 270 feet, one of which was proposed inside the boundaries of Redwood National Park. But thanks to the 1,451 EPIC members from 32 states and 28 countries who spoke up by sending comments through EPIC’s two action alerts, none of the towers will be built within Redwood National Park. Instead, the towers will be built at alternative locations outside of the park. read more >>
EPIC Summer Events
May 15, 2018
Each Summer, EPIC's staff, board, and volunteers share their love for the wild all across the North Coast! Catch us tabling at your favorite music festival, leading a bilingual hike along your favorite swimming spot, and hosting our second annual EPIC Base Camp. We are pleased to present new merchandise for the summer season—including car bumper stickers, and a re-release of our beloved "Save Richardson Grove" t-shirts. Check out our EPIC summer happenings! read more >>
EPIC Forest Prom Thank you!
May 3, 2018
The staff and board of the Environmental Protection Information Center would like to thank all the attendees, businesses, sponsors, volunteers and artists who helped make our first EPIC Forest Prom a success! It was inspiring to see a room full fresh faces engaged in our cause. We were thrilled to host an event that showcased our old school EPIC charm with the vibrant new generation of environmental activists. read more >>
