Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS : COUNTY : Bill Limiting Airport Noise Suits Strikes Out

For the third time in four years, Gov. George Deukmejian has vetoed a bill that would have limited noise lawsuits against John Wayne Airport and other publicly owned airfields.

In a terse message, the governor said nothing had changed since the issue crossed his desk in 1983 and 1984. “I have indicated that I do not agree with the apparent intent of this legislation, which is to preclude homeowners’ ” access to the courts, he said.

Under the bill that was vetoed, a resident would have been able to file only one lawsuit after December, 1987, complaining of airport noise. The governor, in his veto message, suggested that a once-a-year limit would be more reasonable.

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed over the years against John Wayne and other airports, including those in Burbank, San Diego and San Francisco.

In another move, Deukmejian signed a measure removing the last major financial hurdle for the planned $340-million expansion at John Wayne. The bill, supported by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, will allow the county to sell revenue bonds, without seeking voter approval, to finance the new terminal and parking structure.