California riding area under attack

Despite protests from off-highway riders and state and local officials, a county air pollution board in California is pointing its finger at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA).

Members of the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District board voted 7-4, with one abstention, on Nov. 17 to require the state to cut down on the particulates blowing from the sand dunes or face fines of up to $1,000.

Oceano Dunes is located at Pismo Beach, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and is one of the most popular state parks in California. It features more than five miles of beach open for vehicle use and has sand dunes that are open to off-highway vehicles (OHVs).

Based on a recent study, the board claims that off-highway vehicles at Oceano Dunes are causing particulates to blow down to the community of Nipomo Mesa, causing health problems.

The state and others, meanwhile, claim that the study is flawed. Off-highway riders contend the new rule to control particulates from the park is an attempt to close the dunes to OHVs.

The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District has come under attack for relying on fines and fees to pay employees. CalCoastNews.com reports that the district has 21 workers and 19 of them earn more than $100,000 a year in salaries and benefits.

“I’ve been following the issue very closely, and I know that the California State Parks Department doesn’t want to do anything that would endanger the health and safety of anyone,” says Nick Haris, AMA Western states representative. 

“I know they want to work with the district to take mitigating measures and ease the concerns of Nipomo Mesa residents,” he says.

“I also know that the state believes the air pollution board’s study is seriously flawed, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the state challenges the new rule in court,” Haris says.