It has been 25 years since community members in northern Mendocino and southern Humboldt counties came together to end aerial spraying of herbicides by industrial logging companies. Born from this successful effort, EPIC remains deeply rooted in our local community and continues to grow to deal with new threats confronting our magnificent North Coast ecosystem.
EPIC is carrying on our work to reform industrial logging operations on private and state land, but recently expanded to address increased logging in the Six Rivers, Trinity, and Mendocino National Forests. Additionally, EPIC began our Humboldt Bay Initiative to protect this incredible coastal estuary from industrial pollution and development.

EPIC has numerous ongoing actions to address impacts from logging on private and state land, including a campaign to take the California Department of Forestry (CDF) ?out of the driver?s seat? in approving logging operations. As part of this campaign, in June we prepared a formal petition to the State Water Resources Control Board, demanding it reclaim authority it handed over to CDF in the 1980?s. Also as part of this campaign, EPIC is working to end a statewide ?waiver? that exempts logging operations approved by CDF from key provisions of the state?s clean water act.

Our National Forest Conservation Program recently gained significant victories. In June, an EPIC lawsuit blocked a 1,050 acre logging sale adjacent to the Trinity Alps Wilderness, and in July we successfully appealed a logging sale that targeted ancient forests in the Salmon River watershed, one of the crown jewel?s in California.

In our Humboldt Bay Initiative, we have been researching toxic pollution problems and closely monitoring the City of Eureka?s plan to develop the Bay into an industrial port facility. EPIC has also been working to expose the City?s plan to construct a road through the Eureka Marsh, and to bring California?s largest oyster company into compliance with the Clean Water Act.

EPIC thanks all our supporters both locally and throughout California and the world. It is only through the work of so many dedicated activists that EPIC has become a powerful voice for our ancient forests and native species. EPIC looks forward to continuing this work with our allies and reaching a time when streams on the North Coast again run clear and cold, our coastal estuaries are restored, and all ancient forests are protected.
For additional information on any of the actions discussed above or EPIC?s other projects.

More Updates

• August, 2003 Update
  
• March, 2003 Update
  

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