May 13, 2003

Contact:
Linda Krop, EDC: (805) 963-1622
Doug Buckmaster: (805) 927-4206
Susan Jordan: (805) 637-3037

COASTAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS ENVISION BLUEPRINT FOR CONSERVATION OF HEARST RANCH

Concerns Regarding Lack of Details on Hearst's Proposed Framework Serves as 'Call to Action'

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - Today, Central Coast environmentalists released their vision for protecting the Hearst Ranch, a spectacular stretch of open space on the San Luis Obispo County coast and home to Hearst Castle. After waiting for over six months for details of a deal between the Hearst Corporation and the American Land Conservancy (ALC), the Friends of the RanchLand and the Environmental Defense Center decided to draft their own "Blueprint" providing recommendations for conserving the Ranch.

After more than 40 years of threatening to develop the coastline with resort complexes, golf courses, and luxury housing, the Hearst Corporation announced the tentative deal at the end of 2002. The agreement with ALC proposes a mixture of resort and residential development, with an agricultural easement over most of the remaining land. The actual components of the deal have not been revealed to the public or to the groups who have fought to protect the Ranch from inappropriate development. The Hearst Corporation's proposal, comprised of a single page of bullet points, is long on promises and short on details. While some local elected officials and business groups endorsed the proposal early on, major local and state-wide environmental groups took a "wait and see" attitude while expressing cautious optimism.

After waiting patiently for over six months since the unveiling of the single page proposal, one group, the Friends of the Ranchland, decided that instead of waiting for information that never seems to materialize, it was time to put forth their Blueprint for what should be included in any deal for the Hearst Ranch. Friends of the RanchLand enlisted the help of its longtime representative, the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), in creating this guideline for true conservation.

At 70 pages, the Blueprint addresses the key issues of habitat conservation and restoration, public access, protection of cultural and scenic resources, and recommendations on restricting future development and the possible conversion of grazing land to wineries and dude ranches. The document emphasizes the key elements that need to be incorporated into the Hearst proposal if it is to receive broad public support. Already, over 30 state and local environmental groups representing more than 22,000 members have endorsed the Blueprint (see attached list).

"We all support conservation of the Hearst Ranch for the generations to come," said Doug Buckmaster, President of Friends of the RanchLand. "Where we may differ on is how that vision takes shape and who should be sitting at the table making those decisions."

"Any future uses need to comply with coastal laws and policies", said Linda Krop, Chief Counsel and Executive Director of the Environmental Defense Center. "Obviously, if public funding is used, the public needs to receive a significant benefit in terms of public access and resource enhancement."

"In order to make this conservation deal a reality, significant taxpayer dollars will need to be allocated to fund it," said Susan Jordan of the California Coastal Protection Network. "The use of public dollars during a time of severe economic duress requires that the conservation proposal offer the highest level of public benefit possible."

Now that the Blueprint has been finalized, Friends of the Ranchland and ten other local and statewide environmental groups will send representatives to meet with Mary Nichols, Secretary of Resources, and Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy, to present the 'blueprint' and to offer their vision of the elements that they believe must be incorporated into a conservation deal for the Hearst Ranch property.

The main tenets of the Blueprint are:

1. Complete conservation of the historic Ranch, with siting of any new development at San Simeon Acres on Hearst property, is top priority.
2. Ensuring that a public process is used to determine the future uses and conservation efforts on the Ranch.
3. Using public funds to purchase the land rather than buying an easement, if possible. An easement should be required for free, as a mitigation measure, if any development is approved.
4. Ensuring strict provisions for natural, cultural and scenic values of the Ranch, and a comprehensive public access component, whether the property is purchased or is put in an easement.

Since 1977, EDC has been serving California's Central Coast as the only nonprofit, public interest environmental law firm between Los Angeles and San Francisco. EDC provides legal, educational and advocacy support to community and environmental groups on environmental issues such as protecting water quality, preserving precious open spaces, saving species from extinction and guarding public health.

Friends of the RanchLand is a nonprofit public benefit corporation organized to provide education and public empowerment regarding the importance of preserving low intensity and environmentally compatible coastal agriculture. Friends of the RanchLand has been active in efforts to protect coastal resources from development since 1990 and has been fully engaged in the public process on issues involving conservation of California's Central Coast.

Executive Summary available upon request.

STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSING THE BLUEPRINT

SAN LUIS OBISPO COAST ALLIANCE:
Environmental Center of SLO
Sierra Club, Santa Lucia Chapter
Coastwalk
Surfrider Foundation, San Luis Bay Chapter
Surfrider Foundation, Santa Barbara Chapter
Planning and Conservation League
CALPIRG
Ventana Wilderness Alliance
The Ocean Conservancy, Santa Barbara Field Office
SLO County Chumash Council
Cambria Forum
Life on Planet Earth
Coastal Alliance on Plant Expansion
Santa Margarita Residents Together (SMART)
Citizens for a Vehicle Free Nipomo Dunes
Mothers for Peace
Environment in the Public Interest
Canyons & Streams Alliance (CASA)
Blue Dolphin Alliance
Wild Nature, Inc.
Friends of Black Lake Canyon
Save Our Shores
People for the Nipomo Dunes
Environmental Action Committee of West Marin
Friends of Point Sal
Pelican Network
Access for All
Bolsa Chica Land Trust
Paso Watch
Friends of Nipomo Community Park
New World Baroque Orchestra

ALSO ENDORSING:
Environmental Defense Center
Sierra Club Coastal Program
California Coastal Protection Network

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