Another state regulator targets Brewers owner over alleged sand theft in Malibu

A second state agency is targeting the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers for taking sand from a Malibu beach .

Last month, the California Coastal Commission sent Mark Attanasio a notice of violation related to the taking of sand from Broad Beach, and a second letter from the California State Lands Commission has accused his construction crew of unauthorized work on state-owned tidelands.

In addition, the letter alleges that the construction work amount to a theft of state resources and damaged state property.

“The activities may have damaged rocky reef habitat or other important public trust resources and impaired public access to public property,” the letter explained.

Attanasio’s attorney, Kenneth Ehrlich, disputed that any sand was improperly taken and said the construction crew, 2XMD Partners, will respond to both state agency letters by the end of the day Monday.

A request for comment from 2XMD Partners was not immediately returned.

Ehrlich disputes the allegations, but Tim McGinity, who represents James Kohlbert, the neighbor who initially filed suit against Attanasio over the sand issue, told KNX News the CCC letter backs up their claims.

“We’re happy that the Coastal Commission is sort of echoing what we are also trying to do, and we’re encouraged with the actions that they’ve taken thus far,” he said last month.

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