An environmental group is suing an oil company in Santa Barbara County, claiming that polluted storm water runoff from its facilities in the Orcutt area is contaminating creeks, and the ocean.
The Environmental Defense Center claims that the pollution is coming from the Pacific Coast Energy Company’s 5400 acre North County facility. The suit says the company is violating the Clean Water Act.
The EDC action charges that polluted storm water from the oil facilities flows into Orcutt and San Antonio Creeks. It says the contaminated water then goes into the Santa Maria River and ultimately the ocean.
EDC officials say they tried to resolve the concerns with the company, and when that failed moved to file the federal lawsuit this week.
