Oceano, CA -- According to Oceano Community Services District board members, if new proposed regulations for the Oceano Dunes are put into place, they would damage the economies of South County communities to the tune of millions of dollars. The board voted 4-0 this week to send a letter to county air-quality regulators in opposition to new rules that would force the State Parks Department to reduce the amount of dust coming from the Dunes.

The proposed rules could subject the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area to fines and other enforcement if the dust blowing off the coastal park is not reduced in coming years. Dena Bellman, park and recreation specialist for the State Parks Department’s Oceano Dunes District told The Tribune, an economic study set to be released concludes that the park injects 171 million dollars into the local economy.

But, critics counter the report saying the study doesn’t include the costs of increased illnesses from dust pollution, riding accidents of demands on public services and infrastructure.