blog'n at san onofre

FEAR THE COLLABORATIVE

Citing serious concerns about the "extreme secrecy" surrounding the Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) participation in a key federal interagency committee (formally known as the South Orange County Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Project --
SOCTIIP -- Collaborative), Lt. Governor John Garamendi sent a strongly worded
letter to Jane Luxton, general counsel at the Department of Commerce's
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requesting a more open, public
process.


One of the main functions of the federal committee is to coordinate
federal agency evaluation of alternatives to the Toll Road proposed to go
through the Donna O'Neill Conservancy and San Onofre State Beach Park. As
such, this important committee is in a position to determine whether or not
new information regarding alternative is objectively considered.


In this June 10, 2008, letter, Lt. Gov. Garamendi stated, "My concern is
that these deliberations, so critical to your [NOAA and the Dept. of
Commerce's] final analysis, are being finalized in an environment where ONLY
the project applicant examines, presents, evaluates and comments upon
evidence. There is no opportunity for the public to participate in or even
witness discussions and deliberations."


"TCA is not a collaborative member, but an observer. The structure of the
SOCTIIP Collaborative has created an untenable situation: a project proponent
with interests that are potentially adverse to the public or in contravention
of law, is provided exclusive permission to communicate freely with federal
regulators sheltered from public scrutiny. This set up frustrates the purpose
of open government and public records law," added Lt. Gov. Garamendi.


To resolve this situation, Lt. Gov. Garamendi requests four things: that
observers representing the public must be invited to attend and participate in
each SOCTIIP collaborative meeting; that all previous and future meetings from
Collaborative meetings must be released to the public; that a list of
attendees to all Collaborative meetings be released to the public; and that
all testimony, documentation and analyses of any kind be made publicly
available within a reasonable time after each meeting.


"Given the Coastal Commission's strong position in opposition to the toll
road and the fact that more than 25,000 people have filed comments with the
Department of Commerce expressing their views about this controversial project
through a state park, it is extremely troubling that the TCA is meeting behind
closed doors with federal regulators and that these meetings are completely
shielded from the public," stated Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the
California State Parks Foundation and leading member of the Save San Onofre
Coalition.


"The TCA has, time and again, sought to stifle public review and
participation, and attempted to exert undue 'behind the scenes' influence on
their deeply flawed toll road project," added Goldstein. "After TCA made a
decision to appeal the Coastal Commission's rejection of the toll road, TCA, a
public agency, actually requested that the Department of Commerce not hold a
public hearing -- a request that was rejected. TCA should not be allowed to
continue to meet secretly with federal agencies about the Foothill South Toll
Road. The Collaborative's deliberations should not be shrouded in secrecy but
open to the public and transparent."


BACKGROUND:

The Save San Onofre Coalition is a diverse coalition of individuals and
groups that includes four former state parks commissioners, local, regional,
state and national environmental organizations, cities, counties and elected
officials statewide. For more information about the Save San Onofre
Coalition, visit http://www.savesanonofre.com. You can obtain a copy of Lt.
Governor Garamendi's letter at
http://www.ltg.ca.gov/images//toll%20road%20letter%20luxton%206-11-08.pdf

Labels: conspiracy, san clemente, san onofre

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posted by NeoN @ 6/11/2008 02:18:00 PM