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 The proposal has generated record public interest, so much so that
the agency will host the vote meeting in the massive Long Beach
Convention & Entertainment Center, just south of Los Angeles, to
accommodate all those wanting to attend.
At least several hundred opponents and supporters of the proposal
are expected to show up.
Experts with the California Coastal Commission issued a report last
month in favor of allowing SeaWorld to go ahead with its so-called
Blue World Project on several conditions.
Those include one provision limiting SeaWorld on how it could expand
its population of 11 killer whales at the San Diego theme park and
requiring it to protect the sea mammals from noise during
construction.
 SeaWorld has drawn up plans for two orca pools, one containing 5.2
million gallons (19.7 million liters) of water and another with
450,000 gallons (1.7 million liters). It would represent an increase
in volume of nearly 3.8 million gallons (14.4 million liters),
officials said.
As of last month the commission had received more than 120,000
emails from people about the project, most coming from people
opposing it, said commission spokeswoman Noaki Schwartz.
A typical email of opposition the commission received said the orcas
should be freed from captivity and placed in seaside sanctuaries.
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Tens of thousands of letters and post cards were also sent to the
commission, and most of those were in support of the plan, she said.
The volume of communication the California Coastal Commission has
received on the proposal represents a record for the agency,
Schwartz said.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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