Update: Regional Water Quality Control Board DENIES Permit to Construct Toll Road

[antiquie]

Last edited Thu Jun 20, 2013, 06:28 PM - Edit history (2)

Surfrider Foundation and Coalition One Step Closer To Saving Trestles

Following two hearings filled with testimony that included comments from Surfrider Foundation, activists and ocean lovers alike, the Regional Water Quality Control Board denied the Transportation Corridor Agencies the necessary permit to build the first “segment” of the SR-241 toll road extension.

“We are elated that the Board soundly rejected the TCA’s application—they clearly understood the severe the implications of building the first 5 miles of the road. It is reassuring that this Water Board is living up to their mission statement of implementing plans that will best protect the region’s waterways,” said Stefanie Sekich-Quinn, Surfrider Foundation California Policy Manager.

During the hearing, which was standing room only at the Regional Water Quality Control Board Meeting room in San Diego, Surfrider Foundation Chapter representatives, staff, supporters and coalition partners took to the stand one after another to voice their opposition to the first 5.5-mile “segment” of the toll road extension. The project, which was proposed in 2011 just three years after the California Coastal Commission and the Bush Administration shot down the original alignment through San Onofre State Park, calls for the extension of SR-241 to be built in “segments” – five miles at a time. “Segmenting” is illegal under state and federal law. Not only did the TCA’s proposed plan circumvent important laws, this approach made absolutely no planning sense as it would have created a “cul-de-sac of traffic” for San Juan Capistrano, and end at a road that is not even built yet. More recently, the TCA held a “special meeting” to approve plans for the “Tesoro Extension,” the first five miles of the 241 Toll Road extension, without any public workshops or sufficient public notice.

“This section of the road would have set the stage to reinvigorate their push to extend all the way to Trestles and San Onofre State Beach. Hopefully the TCA will finally get the picture that their plans are neither appropriate for our coastal watersheds nor in the interests of the region or state,” said Surfrider Foundation Coastal Preservation Manager Mark Rauscher.

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[SunSeeker]

1. First we lose half the beach to a nuke reactor...

Now they want to ruin the rest of it with a toll road!

Thanks so much for posting this info.

[geologic]

4. And...

...up on the cliffs they turned the Indian Burial Ground--
into Marine Corps officer housing...

[SunSeeker]

5. There are still some in the state park. That should stop the tollroad alone.

A native American group has filed suit to stop the tollroad on those grounds.

[geologic]

6. The Orange County "Native American"

(my Havisupi friends call themselves Indians) groups active in this ah,
"stuff"; are, like the archaeologists here:
working for the local government(s).

They dig-up whatever they can find in a short period of time,
bless the site--
and leave...

[SunSeeker]

7. As I understand it, certain grounds at the state park are sacred.

Digging up the burial ground would not change that and apparently has not happened anyway.

[geologic]

8. I hope you're right

but all the other burial grounds were sacred too;
along with the Equinox Cave, Bell Rock, Black Star Canyon--
Vulture's Craig (the condor home) and Robber's Roost were sacred to all of us...

[geologic]

9. Addendumb...

...don't know how I got the (mis)information that Vulture's Crag had been demolished for the tollroad,
like they demolished the calendar cave (or whatever it was called) and Robber's Roost for fancy houses;
haven't been up there in 50 years--
and never been on the tollroad...

http://www.rei.com/guidepost/detail/california/hiking/santiago-trail-modjeska-grade-to-vulture-crags/18672

[petronius]

2. Do you know if there is a comment address (digital or snail mail) that those

of us in other parts of the state could respond to?

I've been trying to find a good map of the proposal online - what I have been finding shows them slicing off a big piece of the park.

Aside from the disrupted habitat, does the proposal interfere with any beach parking (or bike routes) or access trails?

[antiquie]

3. Online link to Surfrider action page.

http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7351

San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
9174 Sky Park Court, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92123

I do not have as much information as hoped, here is a bit from the above link.

"Segmenting” is illegal under state and federal law. Not only does TCA’s plan circumvent important laws, this approach makes absolutely no sense. This first 5-mile segment is literally a “road to nowhere,” ending at a dirt road and threatening to create traffic nightmares for thousands of Orange County residents.

The TCA recently applied for an environmental permit with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) for the first section of the road (this is one of many permits they need to obtain). Their RWQCB application is flawed—TCA is overlooking impacts to important wetlands, the San Juan Creek, and the surrounding watershed—which could affect the coastal zone and ocean resources.

A federal agency even admitted in 2005 that San Juan Creek watershed is already degraded due to erosion from development and cannot endure any more growth, saying that continued erosion could cause the failure of buried water and sewer lines, as well as the disappearance of watershed habitat.

[antiquie]

10. Updated OP with video on The Trestles

Watch the video created by Surf Channel to gain a better understanding of why Trestles needs our attention and why there is such a need for it to be saved.

[antiquie]

11. Updated OP to current status: We WON (another round).

[petronius]

12. Great news! Thanks for the update...