Coastal and Lone Tree Timeline and Info Sheet
Updated through 1/3/03
Contact names and
numbers:
California Department
of Parks and Recreation key participants: (415
area code unless otherwise noted)
Shaelyn Raab Strattan,
Statewide Environmental Coordinator, Acquisition and Development: 916 445-8791
Patti DuMont, Environmental Coordinator, Acquisition and Development: 916 445-9081
David Boyd, Associate Resource Ecologist, DPR, Marin District: 893-1587
Environmental and recreation community key participants:
Attorney representing Tamalpais Conservation Club (TCC), Dotty LeMieux: 383-3715
Marin Horse Council, (MHC): Connie Berto: 454-2923
Tamalpais Conservation Club, Corresponding Secretary, Larry Minikes: 459-7724
Bay Area Trails Preservation Council (TPC), President, Nancy Sandy: 457-4700
Marin Conservation League (MCL): Parks Chair, Jean Berensmeier: 488-9034
Timeline
Sometime in 2002: CA Dept. of Parks and Recreation (DPR) proposes:
…restoring two severely degraded and environmentally damaging backcountry dirt access roads (Coastal and Lone Tree Fire Roads). This project involves the removal of 3.1 miles of dirt road, conversion of 0.5 miles of road to multi-use trail, and construction of 4.8 miles of new multi-use trail.
September 18 – 23, 2002: Comments solicited by DPR received from International Mt. Biking Association, Marin Bicycle Trails Council, Sonoma Trails Council (mountain biking), Access4Bikes and several land management agencies including MMWD and MCOSD in support of project. No comments solicited or received from any local environmental/conservation, equestrian, hiker, or running groups or organizations.
October 2: DPR releases Application entitled: Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program, Mount Tamalpais State Park Coastal Trails Rehabilitation, Project Proposal.
October 5: Environmental community learns of the Project through a third party.
November 4: Public meeting is held at DPR Marin County Headquarters, Novato. Many organizations have no record of receiving meeting notice. Over 100 mountain bike proponents in attendance, several representing groups outside of Marin. Fewer than 15 representing environmental, conservation, equestrian and hiking groups in attendance due to poor notification.
November 4: TCC presents its Position Statement to DPR, in opposition to the Application.
November 21: Representatives of TCC, TPC and MHC conduct onsite visit with David Boyd and assistant.
November 25: Patti DuMont releases Notice of Availability and Intent to Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND). DPR does not inform Marin DPR staff of its release.
December 1: Marin DPR staff informs TCC filing is imminent.
December 2: Marin DPR staff emails 30 day notice from David Boyd. TCC and MHC request copies.
December 5: MCL and representatives of the environmental and recreation community meet with David Boyd and assistant at MCL headquarters.
December 6: TCC meets with attorney Dotty LeMieux, is retained as counsel.
December 18: TCC requests 30 day extension to file. MMWD and MCL also request extension to file.
December 20: DPR promises response is forthcoming.
December 23: DPR faxes letter to LeMieux dated December 20 denying extension and denying validity of Boyd December 2 30 day notice. DPR claims next day (Christmas Eve) is last day to file. Protests faxed to Raab Strattan by LeMieux and Corresponding Secretary, Minikes.
December 24: TCC faxes 43 page Opposition to MND document to DuMont.
December 27: DPR agrees to extend filing through January 1, 2003.
December 31: LeMieux faxes legal objection to MND and requests full EIR. TCC mails packet to DuMont, 13 pages newspaper articles and editorials and CD-R with 12 files.
January 1, 2003: TCC faxes 2 pg. letter to DuMont describing and demonstrating significance of contents of packet. Comment to the MND ends.