Ocean Pollution

TRESTLES SAVED - Department of Commerce rejects appeal by Transportation Corridor Agencies

BREAKING NEWS: The Trestles Surf break has been saved, at least for now. Today, the Department of Commerce rejected an appeal by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) to the Secretary of Commerce. The TCA, a private organization, had appealed the California Coastal Commissions decision to reject the project earlier in 2008. In its ruling, the Department of Commerce noted that “there is an available and reasonable alternative to the project [that would be consistent with the policies of the California Coastal Commission.]” That alternative route - the Central Corridor-Avenida La Pata Alternative - is discussed in detail in the decision, and was determined to be consistent with the objectives of the California Coastal Commission. Further, the Secretary of Commerce ruled that the “project is not necessary in the interest of national security,” which was a key argument of the TCA. The reasoning was rejected in statements by both the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense, according to the decision.

A victory for the surfing community, and, in particular, the Surfrider Foundation, this marks the end of the toll road extension through the Trestles surf break, pending further appeal by the TCA. Indeed, the decision noted the “substantial public interest and input” in the case. (The decision regarding Trestles from the Department of Commerce is available here.) Says Surfrider Foundation’s Matt McClain: “This morning we got word that the United States Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez upheld the California Coastal Commission’s February ruling that the proposed extension to the 241 toll road violates California coastal law. This decision makes it near impossible for the TCA to move forward with this project. In short – We won!!!”

Victory indeed. A spokesperson for the TCA expressed “disappointment” in the decision, but declined to comment further pending their review of the decision.

The long-standing campaign against the Trestles toll road extension has energized the Surfrider Foundation and has focused the attention of surfers everywhere on threatened breaks and ocean pollution, at Trestles and around the world.

More reaction to follow later today.

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