As anticipated, the Orange County Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA)
adopted an alignment for extending the Foothill toll road that
would devastate San Onofre State Beach. A coalition of groups, including EHL, immediately filed suit.
The litigation challenges the project’s California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) documentation. It gained considerable strength when
complementary lawsuits were filed by Attorney General Bill Lockyer,
representing the California State Park Commission, and by the Native
American Heritage Commission. Endangered species, unique coastal
camping, the world-renowned Trestles surf break, and Native American
cultural sites are all at risk. Alternatives, such as improving
Interstate 5, were shortchanged by the environmental impact report.
Momentum to save San Onofre State Beach is building. Cities asking that
this park be spared include Oceanside, Imperial Beach, Aliso Viejo,
Laguna Beach, and Los
Angeles, with Del Mar expressing concern. The
Schwarzenegger Administration has taken an essentially neutral
position. The law firms representing our coalition of environmental and
recreational groups include Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger and the
Natural
Resources Defense Council.