Victory at San Onofre <a class=nav1 >

The Sierra Club’s Friends of the Foothills campaign recently won an important victory when the Commerce Department ruled to uphold the California Coastal Commission’s rejection of a proposed toll road at San Onofre State Beach.

For more than 10 years the Sierra Club has tirelessly fought a proposed 16-mile toll road through California’s 5th most popular state park. This project would have destroyed nearly 60% of the park, including the San Mateo Campground, a pristine watershed and world-renowned Trestles surf beach; the Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy and the Native American sacred site, Panhe.

The decision by the Commerce Department is a victory for the thousands of Californians from Eureka to San Diego who have spent years fighting to protect San Onofre State Beach. The Sierra Club could not have won this incredible victory without the support of thousands of dedicated volunteers. This is a victory for all our state parks, for if this road had been approved it would have opened the door for development in other parks in the future.

Over the years the Sierra Club created a strong movement of community residents, surfers, campers and environmentalists who attended many hearings and broke attendance records at many of them. Most recently, volunteers broke record attendance at the California Coastal Commission hearing, where over 3,000 people attended and the Commerce Department hearing where nearly 2,500 people attended.

Bill Holmes, Friends of the Foothills Task Force Chair, said, The Sierra Club began fighting this toll road over ten years ago, starting with a march of 40 people in downtown San Clemente and ending with thousands of people at the final hearings. This victory proves that when people come together and don’t give up, we can really make a difference.

The Sierra Club applauds Senator Boxer for her critical support in protecting our state park. We also thank Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez for her fight to protect our environmental laws by helping to remove a waiver that exempted the toll road agency from California state laws. And finally, we thank our partners in the Save San Onofre Coalition, which made our fight broader and stronger.

While our fight still continues, if the toll road agency persists in its efforts to harm our environment, this victory means a toll road will not replace a state park. The Sierra Club, along with thousands of volunteers, will continue to protect San Onofre State Beach, the San Mateo Campground and Trestles Beach for future generations to enjoy.