The enforcement of California’s environmental laws is essential to protect human health, the environment, and the state and local economies. Fair and uniform enforcement of rules and regulations governing the environment benefits law abiding businesses, individuals, and improves the quality of life in our community.
Deputy District Attorneys assigned to the Environmental Protection Unit prosecute businesses and individuals who violate environmental laws and workplace safety in Ventura County. We are committed to protecting the environment and work closely with agencies tasked with achieving and enforcing environmental regulatory compliance and protecting aquatic life in our local streambeds as well as the Channel Islands and Ventura Harbors.
The Environmental Protection Unit investigates and prosecutes a variety of cases in collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies. These cases range from the illegal transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, oilfield related petroleum releases, illegal disposal of medical waste, underground storage tank leak detection monitoring deficiencies and improper management of pesticides; all of which can negatively impact public safety, human health, wildlife, and our natural resources.
Along with our team of prosecutors and investigators, the Environmental Protection Unit includes an Environmental Specialist with over 25 years of environmental experience whose technical expertise, knowledge of complex regulatory laws and statutes, and industry operations contributes to the success of the unit’s criminal and civil prosecutions.
The District Attorney’s Office Environmental Protection Unit regularly hosts Environmental Crimes Task Force meetings attended by multiple agencies in furtherance of our commitment to protect the environment. These agencies include the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, Ventura County Environmental Health, California Department of Toxic Substance Control, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Environmental Protection Agency, California State Water Resources Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ventura County Fire Department. Together we coordinate local, state and federal efforts to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes in Ventura County.
Regulatory agencies as well as private citizens can refer environmental concerns regarding unlawful conduct by companies and persons to the Environmental Protection Unit for possible investigation and prosecution. The Environmental Protection Unit files criminal charges as well as civil lawsuits to obtain permanent injunctions and civil penalties that stop illegal activity and hold those responsible for harming the environment.
CONTACT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT
NOTABLE CASES: ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES
Settlement Reached in Illegal Disposal of Toxic Substance into Ventura Harbor
On April 21, 2023, the Ventura County District Attorney and Silver Bay Seafoods entered a stipulated Final Judgment resolving a civil prosecution relating to the company’s 2021 and 2022 releases of stick water. Stick water is squid ink wastewater which is lethal to fish and marine life due to its high concentration of ammonia. Under…
Wildlife Trafficking Crew Charged and Pled Guilty to Poaching Crimes
An in-depth investigation by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife identified a large poaching and wildlife trafficking organization referred to as the “E-Bike crew.” The “E Bike crew” conspired with one another and Lizette’s Market to fraudulently reprint hunting licenses and tags for the purpose of unlawfully poaching wildlife. All seven defendants pled guilty…
AT&T Agrees to Nearly $6 Million Statewide Environmental Settlement
The Ventura County District Attorney and the Santa Cruz County District Attorney were lead counsel in a civil prosecution of AT&T which led to a $5.9 million settlement for environmental violations. AT&T failed to report the location of numerous hazardous materials (batteries) with the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) at more than 3,000 sites across…
Carwash Company Settles Case for Unlawful Hazardous Waste Disposal
On March 11, 2019, Simi Valley-based Simi Auto Spa & Speed Wash illegally disposed of hazardous waste into an on-site storm drain that directly connects to the Arroyo Simi waterway which turned the waterway bright green. The hazardous waste, auto detailing wax, contained the chemical sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, which is acutely toxic to aquatic life.…
Santa Paula Company Settles Illegal Pesticide Sales Case for $625,000
A multi-agency investigation revealed that Fruit Growers Supply sold restricted pesticides to non-permitted users numerous times in 2019 and 2020. These pesticides included Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) which have been identified in more than 90 percent of tested deceased mountain lions, 88 percent of tested deceased bobcats, 85 percent of tested deceased protected Pacific…
Lemon Packing Facility Settles Case for Unlawful Release of Air Contaminant
On February 8, 2019, a malfunction of fruit washing equipment at the Association’s facility triggered the release of commercial grade sodium hypochlorite into the air. Sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in household bleach and is used to sterilize fruit prior to packing. Two local schools, Blanchard Elementary School and Briggs School, were required to…
Fisherman Settles Case Involving Diesel Spill at Ventura Harbor
On June 2, 2018, the Ventura Harbor District (VHD) was notified that Albatro was listing in its slip. Upon arriving on scene, VHD observed red dye diesel in the water surrounding the sinking boat. The United States Coast Guard and the VHD immediately performed containment and cleanup efforts to control and collect the fuel spill.…
Settlement Reached in Fuel Spill at Camarillo Airport
On February 19, 2019, a Sun Air employee was filling a 3,000 gallon mobile refueler truck containing jet A-1 fuel. A refueler overfill protection device malfunctioned, resulting in a significant amount of jet fuel being released into the environment.
Settlement Reached in Environmental Case
On February 9, 2021, routine maintenance activities on the commercial fishing boat “El Dorado,” captained by Aliotti, caused a substantial amount of paint debris to float into the harbor and coat nearby aquatic life. Aliotti fully cooperated with the investigation and instituted remedial measures shortly thereafter to ensure a similar incident does not occur in…
Settlement Reached in Environmental Violations Case
On April 29, 2020, DFW was notified that maintenance was occurring at the Ventura Harbor on the vessel “Islander”, operated by Island Packers. The maintenance involved sanding the deck of the boat without any containment measures in place. This resulted in substantial paint related debris floating into the harbor. Immediately after the incident, Island Packers…