The U.S. Department of Commerce has set a date for a panel hearing on the proposed extension of the Orange County toll road. You might recall that this same panel cancelled a hearing scheduled for July when it feared that too many people would show up. Well, they've solved the problem of all those pesky (note irony) members of the public with a new set of rules for the Sept. 22 meeting that are seemingly designed to reduce public input. Here's the story in the San Diego Union Tribune. If you want to learn more about why Audubon California opposes the toll road, click here.