Environmental Groups Ask For Revocation of Lagoon Project Permit

Two environmental groups filed a request this week for the revocation of a Coastal Development Permit that gave the green light for the start of the Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project.

The Wetlands Defense Fund, led by activist Marcia Hanscom, and the Coastal Law Enforcement Action Network hand delivered the documents to the California Coastal Commission Thursday, Hanscom said.

Under state law, a permit can be revoked if the application for the permit included inaccurate, erroneous or incomplete information.

The groups allege the contractor, Ford E.C. Inc., proceeded with work even though the project's dewatering permit is still in draft form. Dewatering is a term that describes the process of removing water from the Malibu Lagoon.

They claim that there are "numerous permit compliance problems," and they asked the commission for a public hearing to resolve the discrepancies.

Craig Sap, District Supervisor for the State Parks Los Angeles District, said he could not comment on the revocation request.

"Our legal counsel is reviewing the document," Sap said.

Last week, the sand berm separating the Malibu Lagoon from the ocean opened, draining most of the water from the lagoon.

In previous interviews, Sap has said the Coastal Commission gave the go ahead for work to continue up to the dewatering portion. For the past week, bulldozers have ripped out vegetation at the lagoon, including seven sycamore trees.

The revocation letter, which is eight pages long, claims that the initial studies on the impact the project would have on the tidewater gobi were not adequate.

"The entire western lagoon will be dammed, drained, dredged and recontoured,
essentially resulting in adverse effects to significant amounts of habitat used for breeding, feeding, foraging, resting, and other essential behaviors, as well as adversely affecting the primary constituents elements for this endangered fish," the document states.

The letter also takes aim at public access during the project.

"Public access is only available sporadically along the perimeter access road – as the bridges trail has been shut off completely from public access, and heavy machinery is using the perimeter access path for habitat removal purposes," according to the document.