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San Diego citizens sue to get sea lion poop cleaned up

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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Residents of an upscale San Diego neighborhood filed a lawsuit against the city demanding it clean up the smelly droppings of sea lions and cormorant birds.

The group of La Jolla residents, calling themselves Citizens For Odor Nuisance Abatement, filed a Superior Court lawsuit against the City of San Diego and interim Mayor Todd Gloria alleging the city has "exclusive dominion, control and responsibility for the maintenance of the cliffs in and around the La Jolla Cove and is responsible for keeping the area free of noxious odors," Courthouse News Service reported Thursday.

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The lawsuit demands the city clean up the animal droppings and remove a fence limiting access to the rocks by La Jolla Cove.

The suit states the city "at some point in time and without public notice, erected a fence along the sidewalk that runs along La Jolla Cove, preventing the public from accessing the rocks. The fence was built without an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and is in violation of the Local Coastal Plan (LCP), which requires maximizing coastal access."

"Preventing coastal access to the rocks by the public gradually led to a buildup of excrement from sea lions and cormorant birds, causing noxious odors resulting in illness to the citizens of San Diego and others who visit this area. The odors have also caused patrons to flee the business establishments in the area to avoid these odors, causing these businesses a loss of patrons and revenues," the lawsuit alleges.

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City offices were closed for Christmas Wednesday and officials were unavailable for comment, Courthouse News Service said.

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