Orange County toll road agency hails wildlife deal; opponents call it ‘procedural and routine’
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 10, 2008 at 6:35 amFrom the LA Times:
An agreement to protect wildlife was announced Friday between the toll road agency and a state agency on the proposed extension of an Orange County toll road, a controversial link that would cut through a popular state park and famed surf spot. Proponents said the agreement helps breathe new life into the proposed toll road extension, which has divided politicians, environmentalists and transportation planners for years. Opponents dismissed it as insignificant.
Although the Foothill South project was rejected by the state Coastal Commission after a clamorous public hearing in February, the toll road agency views the agreement as a substantial victory. The agency has appealed the commission’s decision.
Lance MacLean, chairman of the board that oversees the county’s toll roads, called it a major step toward satisfying environmental requirements for the 16-mile proposed road that will cut through San Onofre State Beach.
The agreement calls for creating, enhancing or restoring 57 acres near creeks as a mitigation measure because 23 acres along the proposed route would be permanently affected, said Marilyn Fluharty, a senior environmental scientist for the California Department of Fish and Game.
However, toll road opponents don’t agree:
Dan Silver, executive director of the Endangered Habitats League, called the state agreement a technical approval that lacked regulatory teeth because it’s “procedural and routine.”
“Basically, it is a notification requirement where the applicant tells the department what they are doing, what the impacts are and these are the mitigations,” Silver said. “It doesn’t evaluate the need for the project nor does it look at alternatives of the project to protect resources.” In contrast, the Coastal Commission has absolute protections for wildlife under the state’s Coastal Act, an “entirely different standard,” Silver said.
MacLean sees it otherwise. “We feel no species will be jeopardized by this work,” MacLean said. “We’re going to be good stewards with the environment.”
Read the full text of this story from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
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