EPIC Challenges Logging Exemptions Across the State

March 31, 2003


EPIC is leading an effort to end a broad "waiver" that exempts the logging industry from requirements of the state Clean Water Act, challenging the exemption across the Sierras, Central Coast, and North Coast regions through multiple administrative actions and lawsuits. The exemptions expired on January 1 in each of these regions, and EPIC presented substantial evidence on behalf of numerous organizations to urge the Regional Water Boards to end them once and for all. The Central Coast Regional Board rejected its proposed exemption due to concerns and issues that EPIC and others raised. But unfortunately, both the Central Valley and North Coast Regional Boards voted to adopt a new exemption. EPIC filed administrative appeals to the State Water Board on both of these decisions, and in January, EPIC filed a lawsuit to overturn the exemption for the North Coast region. EPIC is now working with attorneys to develop a lawsuit on the exemption approved for the Central Valley region.

EPIC is represented in these cases by Earthjustice Legal Defense.


This article can be found online at www.wildcalifornia.org/publications/article-44