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SLO County Supervisors vote to support expansion of California Coastal Monument

Flickr member Joyce cory
The Piedras Blancas Light Station is located on San Luis Obispo County coast about five miles north of San Simeon.

A push to expand the California Coastal National Monument to include the PiedrasBlancas Light Station in San Luis Obispo County, now has the full support of the County Board of Supervisors. 

Members voted unanimously on Tuesday in favor of that action, which serves as a signal to federal lawmakers.

The lighthouse currently sits on 20 acres of federally-owned land that, under bills proposed by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and Representative Lois Capps, would become part of the National Monument.

There are two options for moving forward; one being the legislative route and the other would be a declaration by President Obama before the end of his term.

Designating the land as a National Monument would give it the highest level of protection and make it eligible for federal funds.

Those supporting the declaration say it would help protect cultural artifacts—some dating back more than 3000 years. They also hope it would increase tourism.

The land would be managed under a joint agreement between state parks and the Federal Department of the Interior, according to