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Fate of O.C. toll road to be decided by Bush appointee; With public comment period closed, federal officials have begun compiling tens of thousands of written opinions

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 3, 2008 at 1:00 pm

From the L.A. Times:

Thousands showed up to voice their opinions on a proposed toll road through a state park in north San Diego County; tens of thousands more have written to federal officials about the hotly debated project.

Now that the time for public comment has ended, the turnpike’s future rests not with Southern California residents or lawmakers, but with a member of President Bush’s cabinet.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez — who oversees international trade operations, economic development work, patents and the census — will have sole discretion over the 16 miles of California 241 intended to link Orange and San Diego counties and ease traffic on Interstate 5.

A jumble of state and federal coastal regulations has bounced the decades-long toll road battle from state to federal hands as the clock runs out on the current administration. The decision seems to have little precedent.

“There’s certainly nothing the least bit comparable to this case that one could took to for how the secretary might rule,” said Mark Delaplaine, a California Coastal Commission manager who specializes in energy, ocean resources and federal matters. “There’s really no case like it.”

Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.

October 3, 2008 · Filed Under San Onofre Toll Road

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