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Environmental Defense Fund Archive Record Group 4: California Office Physical Description Dates Provenance Subject Headings The records of the Berkeley office of the Environmental Defense Fund document activities of the attorneys, scientists and staff committed to environmental issues impacting California and the western states. The records begin in 1971 at the office's inception and continue through 1984. The Berkeley office was concerned with maintaining environmental policy and standards through the means of litigation, participation in administrative hearings, scientific research, presenting testimony and papers, and working with government agencies. The records are divided into sub-groups by program area. Within each sub-group the records are broken down into case files, project files and public statements/texts. The project files and public statements/texts often, but not always, relate to an issue that EDF litigated. For example, the operation of the Central Valley Project was the basis for an EDF case; further documentation of EDF’s involvement is also found in the testimony and comments series. Covered in the record group are the basic activities of the office as it functioned
in the 1970s and early 1980s. The records are divided into five sub-groups: Sub-group
1: Administrative records; Sub-group II: Energy/Air Program; Sub-group III: Water
Program; Sub-group 1 the administrative records documenting fundraising and publicity activities; the bulk of this series contains grant files, benefit planning files, inter-office bulletins, and press releases. Sub-sub-groups II.2, III.2, IV.2 and V.2 contain case files documenting EDF’s mission: for the most part, they used the courts to enforce adherence to environmental policy, and to encourage alternatives to projects that would lessen impacts on the environment. The formats found most frequently are: pleadings, briefs, testimony and exhibits. Published reports appear as background documents, which may have been consulted in preparation for the cases. Sub-sub-groups II.3, III.3, IV.3 and V.3 contain project files documenting activities outside the courtroom such as participation of EDF staff in committees, meetings and research projects. Correspondence and meeting minutes appear most frequently. Sub-sub-groups II.4, III.4, IV.4 and V.4 contain public statements and texts which collect the testimony, speeches and writings of the staff. The statements comment on recommendations or take a position on proposed policies and regulations pertaining to water resources, energy resources and to a lesser extent, toxics. Topics The legal files comprise the bulk of the record group as it stands now. Listed below are the highlights of the litigation records listed by topic. Please see the sub-group and series descriptions for more information. Dams & Reservoirs Litigation Files See: Project Files See: Public Statements/Texts: See: Electricity Load Forecasting Litigation Files See: Electricity Conservation Litigation Files See: Public Statements/Texts See: Electric Rate Design Litigation Files See: Sub-group II.2 Series 1 Public Statements/Texts See: Sub-group II.4 Series 1-3 Hazardous waste disposal See: Sub-group IV.4 Series 1-3 Integrated Pest Management Hearings Files See: Sub-group IV.2 Series 1 Pesticide use and integrated pest management See: Sub-group IV.4 Series 1-3 Power Plants Litigation Files See: Public Statements/Texts See: Solar Energy Litigation Files See: Sub-group II.2 Series 1 Public Statements/Texts See: Sub-group II.4 Series 2 & 3 Water Quality Litigation Files See: SG III.2 Series 1 Public Statements/Texts Water Supply See: Sub-group III.2 Series 1 Project Files See: Sub-group III.3 Series 2 Public Statements/Texts See: Sub-group III.4 Series 1-3 |