Santa Barbara Co. 1-3W 14sec Ventura Co 1-3W 14sec Los Angeles Co. 1-3W 14sec Orange Co 2-4W 14sec San Diego Co 4-6W 14sec 55-57d

DEL MAR Ð In an unprecedented show of support for the sanctity of the California Coast, surfers and other activists descended upon the Del Mar Fairgrounds Wyland Hall to voice their opinion in opposition to the toll road that threatened to destroy the world famous surfing spot, known as Trestles, and the surrounding San Onofre State Beach.

After hearing testimony on the decade-old proposal to build the 16-mile road, the California Coastal Commission had the prescience to reject the proposal. Surfers everywhere are now in celebration as Toll Road supporters have now been dealt a lethal blow.

Commission chairman Patrick Kruer of Rancho Santa Fe voted against this, the most significant project to come before this commission since the San Onofre nuclear power plant in 1974, saying it would destroy natural habitats, wetlands and access to public recreation areas.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had urged it be approved.

Most significant project to come before this commission since the San Onofre nuclear power plant in 1974,Ó said Peter Douglas, the commission's executive director, said at the hearing.

Douglas said the project fails to meet state Coastal Act standards.

ÒI know of no other coastal development project so demonstrably inconsistent with the law that has come this far in the regulatory review process,Ó he said.

ÒThis toll road project is not only inconsistent with the law, it also raises fundamental questions about what kind of environmental and social future we want for our coastal communities, our families, our children and theirs,Ó Douglas said.

Project opponents waved posters and fliers in support of his remarks.

Following a lunch break, the commissioners heard from representatives of Transportation Corridor Agencies in Irvine, which finances and builds Orange County's toll roads.

Opponents include surfers contend the road would block the sediment deposits that create the waves at Trestles, and environmentalists, who say the road would destroy habitat for threatened or endangered species.

In 2005, the state Park and Recreation Commission passed a resolution to have parks protected by all state agencies, she said. not meet water-quality standards and should not receive a coastal development permit. Even before the hearing started at 9 a.m., backers and opponents clashed in shouting matches. As hundreds of union workers entered the hearing wearing bright orange T-shirts with banners supporting the road, several hundred supporters joined them in chanting ÒYes! Yes! Yes!Ó Opponents, among them a local contingent lead by Surfers Dan Pankau, Devin Brady and Ken Fujimori, wearing blue T-shirts that read ÒSave the Park, Stop the Toll RoadÓ booed loudly back, shouting back Òno! no! no!Ó and Òsave Trestles!Ó

Ken, Devin and Dan then traveled to Cardiff Reef to surf in S.D. County for the first time ever.

Pat Kruer of Rancho Santa Fe, the agency's chairman, voted against extending the road. In the end, the majority of commissioners agreed with the agency's staff, which concluded the $875 million four-lane road should be rejected because it would destroy natural habitats, wetlands and access to public recreation areas. ÒHow can we as the California Coastal Commission put a private road through a state park?Ó said commissioner Larry Clark, who serves as a councilman in Rancho Palos Verdes. ÒThere are reasonable alternatives, from a transportation standpoint, that have not been explored.Ó Commissioners who supported the road extension said they did not believe it would harm the park. The 16-mile extension of the state Route 241 toll road would link Rancho Santa Margarita and San Onofre. It would cut into the eastern portion of the popular San Onofre State Beach and end near Trestles, a famous surfing spot. San Mateo campground, part of the 3,000-acre state beach. The hearing on the toll road started about 11 a.m. in Wyland Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with a standing-room-only crowd estimated at nearly 3,000 at its peak. The commission took testimony from the project's developer, the agency's staff, elected officials and the public. ÒNo one has proven there is a need for the toll road. Please accept your staff's recommendation,Ó said Mike Bullock of Oceanside. ÒThis is the most significant project to come before this commission since the San Onofre nuclear power plant in 1974,Ó said Peter Douglas, the commission's executive director. ÒI know of no other coastal development project so demonstrably inconsistent with the law that has come this far in the regulatory review process.Ó Throughout the hearing, opponents waved posters and fliers with messages expressing their opposition whenever someone urged the commission to reject the project. Even before the hearing started, backers and opponents shouted at each other. As hundreds of union workers entered the hearing wearing bright orange T-shirts with banners supporting the road, several hundred supporters joined them in chanting ÒYes! Yes! Yes!Ó Opponents wearing blue T-shirts that read ÒSave the Park, Stop the Toll RoadÓ booed and shouted back ÒNo! No! No!Ó and Òsave Trestles!Ó ÒWe need the work!Ó the union workers yelled.

January 30, 2008 11:30 AM; MARINA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA

In the late morning, a boat sank and is sunk in the waters of D Basin on Palawan Way, Dock D2400. Workers are upon the scene and are spreading Oil Containment Sponges at this time. Further details will be posted when available.

12:00pm. UPDATE

Owners of the Vessel Are Now Upon the Scene, and the boat has sunk further, threatening to drag the dock down as well.

Overnight, the vessel has become fully submerged. A recovery operation to raise the vessel are now underway. Recovery workers are optimistic about the chances of raising the vessel.