Added Study Ordered for Off-Road Park

A state commission Friday ordered a new environmental study of a controversial plan for a new state off-road vehicle park in western Fresno County that critics say could pose hazards because of naturally occurring asbestos.

The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission postponed until March a vote on acquisition of the 46,000-acre Martin Ranch. Instead, it ordered a consultant study to determine if the environmental hazards can be overcome, and at a reasonable cost.

Some environmentalists and neighboring property owners oppose the off-road park because it could stir up asbestos that occurs in parts of the tract. In addition, the state Department of Water Resources and the Metropolitan Water District have expressed concern that dirt-biking on the tract would worsen erosion of asbestos-laden sediment into the nearby California Aqueduct, which provides more than 13 million Southern Californians with part of their drinking water.

The aqueduct water is high in asbestos, a substance that poses a cancer hazard when inhaled. There is no conclusive evidence that it can cause cancer when ingested in water.

State off-road officials have said they believe the asbestos problems can be controlled by fencing off the most hazardous areas and building sediment dikes to curb erosion.

Officials had estimated the cost of buying and developing the property at about $10 million.