FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A federal review of the California Coastal Commission is drawing renewed attention to long-running disputes over how the state regulates its coastline, including conflicts involving off-road vehicle access at Oceano Dunes.

In May, the U.S. Department of Commerce directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, to evaluate California’s coastal management program under the Coastal Zone Management Act, stating that the state has interfered with federal priorities.

The California Coastal Commission has recently been involved in legal battles regarding building permits, rocket launching with SpaceX and off-road vehicles.

[RELATED] California Coastal Commission faces two major losses in a week

One off-road vehicle group, the California Four-Wheel Drive Association, is urging residents to share experiences with the commission as part of the federal review.

“California Coastal Commission’s reach of jurisdiction has extended far beyond the limits of what they’re authorized to do under the Coastal Zone Management Act,” said Rose Winn of the California Four-Wheel Drive Association.

Winn called the federal review an opportunity for the public to weigh in.

“This review is very important to all Californians because it’s a rare opportunity that we have to weigh in in sharing how Coastal Commission actions have impacted us, have impacted our communities,” Winn said.

She also criticized the amount of litigation involving the commission.

“We have had countless lawsuits and countless millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars kind of sucked up into the litigation process because of the California Coastal Commission,” Winn said.

The dispute over off-highway vehicle access at Oceano Dunes has been a prominent flashpoint. In 2025, the California Supreme Court declined to hear a petition from the California Coastal Commission seeking to ban off-highway vehicles at Oceano Dunes.

[RELATED] California Supreme Court upholds off-highway vehicle use at Oceano Dunes

In June, the Coastal Commission was asked for comment regarding the federal review and referred questions to the California Secretary for Natural Resources. As part of an accountability question, the following was asked: “Critics argue the Coastal Commission has become more focused on restricting access and development than balancing public use with environmental protection. How do you respond to concerns that the commission has moved beyond the mission voters intended when they created it?”

[RELATED] Trump administration launches federal review of California Coastal Commission

California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot responded stating: “For decades, coastal states and the federal government have worked together to effectively manage our coastlines, advancing federal and state priorities while giving local communities a critical voice in decision-making. Now, the Trump administration is launching a new attack on that collaborative relationship—just as the federal government is already working to open California’s coast to new offshore drilling. Our $51 billion coastal economy serves as a powerful engine for the state’s prosperity, and the people of our state must keep a seat at the table to protect it.”

NOAA was also contacted for comment but has not responded.

Winn said she believes the commission has fueled conflict statewide.

“The California Coastal Commission has created such a contentious atmosphere within the entire state of California that it’s become like a beast of its own,” Winn said. “It should be a cooperative entity in which we’re all cordially, cheerfully taking part in working within the structures that are in place.”

Federal reviews of the California Coastal Commission are standard, as are reviews of other state programs. However, the Department of Commerce has said past reviews have failed to recognize where the state has overstepped.

IMPORTANT DATES:

NOAA will hold an in-person public meeting on August 10th NOAA will hold virtual public meetings on August 11th and 12th.The current deadline for public comment on this particular review is August 22nd.

To learn more about public comment, click HERE.