State Treasurer Bill Lockyer Monday received the California State Parks Foundation’s Legacy Award at a Monday ceremony for his efforts to block an Orange County toll road.
The award cited Lockyer’s “leadership and advocacy in protecting San Onofre State Beach from the proposed Foothill-South toll road,” and his environmental stewardship as attorney general and treasurer.
The toll road, proposed by the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, would link the existing Foothill/Eastern toll road system to Interstate 5. It would be financed with toll revenue bonds.
As attorney general, Lockyer filed lawsuits against the plan under the California Environmental Quality Act, and as treasurer he testified against the proposal before the California Coastal Commission.
The U.S. Department of Commerce in December upheld an earlier Coastal Commission decision to deny certification of the project, which would have used state park property near a well-known surfing beach.
The Commerce Department ruled it did not have the authority to overturn the state Coastal Commission because reasonable alternatives exist and the project is not necessary for national security.
The Foothill/Eastern board has not yet determined a response to the Commerce decision.
