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Surfrider Issues Talking Points For Speakers at Toll Road Hearing

Press Release

September 16 2008
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FROM SURFRIDER:
Below are a number of talking points that can be used to create a personalized “speech” for any of our supporters. Being that this is the Commerce Department, discussion of the economic impacts to your businesses is useful. Please personalize for relevance to you, your organization and your family and friends.

Remember that Commerce is not evaluating the legitimacy of the Coastal Commission’s decision. They are trying to decide if it is in the “national interest” or in the “interest of national security” to overrule California’s environmental laws.

Talking points for testimony (3 minutes for individuals, 5 minutes for organizational representatives and elected officials) We expect the speakers’ list to be published by end of the week.

· Please support the Coastal Commission’s decision that the proposed Foothill-South toll road is inconsistent with the Califrornia Coastal Act and deny the TCA’s request to overturn this determination.

· The toll road is not of national significance. Rather, it is a local matter. It is supposedly being built to reduce local traffic and does not advance the interest of the nation as a whole.

· The immense harm from this project far outweighs any marginal benefit. The toll road will, according to the Calif. Parks Dept., cause the abandonment of the popular San Mateo Campground and effectively destroy 2/3rds of San Onofre State Beach.

· With 2.4 million visitors per year, there is no evidence that the public has any need of the toll road for accessing our state park.

· The road will severely impact endangered species. For this reason, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended alternative routes.

· Erosion and sedimentation from the construction will threaten a world-renowned surfing beach and icon of the multi-million dollar surf industry.

· The toll road will destroy a Native American sacred site and deny Native Americans their rights to practice religious ceremonies on site.

· Reasonable alternatives are available. These alternatives include widening Interstate 5 – the most logical way to relieve congestion on this route.
· The TCA claims regarding home and business displacement to accommodate widening the Interstate 5 are wildly exaggerated.

· According to the Army Corps of Engineers, “there are other practicable alternatives available to TCA that would achieve the overall project purpose.”

· Alternative approaches have been validated by the former design chief for the New York State Department of Transportation.

· The toll road is not necessary for national security. Rather, the toll road would be a permanent encroachment upon the training mission of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton. According to General JL Jones of the Marine Corps, the toll road will “hinder our ability to prepare for war.” The Marine Corps has also commented in writing that the upgrades to Camp Pendleton gates, as proposed by TCA, are not necessary for national security.