A controversial plan to build a toll road through San Onofre State Beach Park is in the hands of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Environmental groups want a public hearing in California before the Commerce Secretary makes a decision. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more.
The Transportation Corridor Agencies wants the Commerce Secretary to overturn the California Coastal Commission's rejection of the plan to build the toll road.
Todd Cardiff is on the Surfrider Foundation's advisory board.
He says before a decision is made on the appeal, there should be a public hearing in Southern California.
Cardiff: This issue is a huge issue for California. It's precedent setting, it's putting a toll road through a state park. And I think that the Secretary of Commerce back in Washington, D.C. needs to come out to California and really get a feeling about what we're talking about here. This is a very, very popular park.
Surfrider Foundation's San Diego chapter and other state chapters have submitted thousands of petition signatures requesting a public hearing.
The state coastal commission rejected the Foothill-South Toll Road project last February.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.