County Military Bases Appear Safe

Despite continuing controversy over Orange County’s military bases, most notably the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, even some of their loudest critics do not expect the facilities to be included among the bases that Congress moved to close this week.

Because of their location and responsibilities, the military bases, which have more than 17,000 military personnel and civilian employees and a combined payroll of well over $300 million annually, are not likely to be targeted for closure, local military and elected officials said Thursday.

Complaints about the bases from nearby residents have ranged from concerns over noise and safety to possible future use of El Toro by commercial airliners.

But in one surprising indication of support, a just-completed survey conducted in the communities around the El Toro jet fighter base found that the majority of area residents support its continued military operation. The majority of respondents expressed concern that if anything happened to the base, “it would jeopardize the military’s ability to quickly respond to an attack,” said David Paine, a public relations consultant for a coalition of community groups opposing use of the base for commercial flights.

In addition to El Toro, Orange County’s military bases are the

Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center, an airfield and support base for reserve units in various military branches; the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station, which provides support for helicopter squadrons; and the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, which supplies weapons to ships of the Pacific Fleet.

No military bases have yet been identified for closure, but an independent commission is to report back to Congress by Dec. 31 on which of the least-needed installations across the country should be closed.

Some officials believe that in the decision to mothball other installations, defense duties could be shifted here, assuring continued operation of the Orange County bases.

Although it is difficult to measure, even if one or more of the bases was closed, the financial impact might not be too disruptive because of the diversity and strength of the Orange County economy. For example, Sally Anne Miller, an Irvine City councilwoman, pointed out that the El Toro base is to some extent economically self-contained. The base has its own housing, shopping centers and day-care centers.

However, some individual businesses near the bases--such as the Orange Inn restaurant in Irvine--might feel a pinch.

“I imagine we would lose about 10% to 15% of our employee staff and about 20% of our business,” said Mark Regan, manager of the restaurant, which opened 2 1/2 weeks ago near the El Toro base on Sand Canyon Avenue.

The El Toro and Tustin air stations are considered so vital to the nation’s defense that it is almost inconceivable to think they would be closed, according to Orange County Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, a retired Marine general.

“Part of the mission (of the bases) is to be one of the support facilities in the event of an attack on the United States,” Riley said. “This facility at El Toro (and Tustin) is needed to implement the war plans for the Marine Corps.”

Vital to Defense

Also considered vital to the nation’s defense is the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. Spokesman James Shell said the facility supplies 365 ships a year “with the weapons they need to remain as an effective fighting force.” Shell added that there are no known plans to curtail operations there.

The Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center, a California National Guard-operated facility, is not likely to be closed because “it fulfills a pretty major defense mission in being so centrally located to the major metropolitan area,” Los Alamitos City Manager Michael Graziano said. He noted that the base is used by thousands of reservists on weekends for training purposes.

“I would think it would demand a very high priority,” Graziano said.

Irvine Councilwoman Miller, chairman of the 3,700-member Coalition for a Responsible Airport Solution, which commissioned the poll of residents around the El Toro base, said the survey results were surprising, considering the amount of public opposition that has been voiced concerning military flights.

Miller added that it would not make good economic sense for the government to close either the Tustin or El Toro bases because both have recently built new housing on their grounds and have increased the number of planes and helicopters using the facilities.

Would Welcome Closure

But while he does not think it is likely soon, Irvine Mayor Larry Agran said he would welcome eventual closure of the Tustin facility because of concerns by residents of his city regarding overflights.

“We’re concerned, of course, not just about noise but the safety factors of continuing helicopter flights,” he continued. “While the national defense, for the time being, may require the Tustin base to remain there, the hope would be that it could be moved to a more suitable location over time. There was, some years ago, some discussion about moving the helicopter activities to Camp Pendleton and I think long-term that would make a great deal of sense.

“You have to keep in mind that the helicopter activities were put here in the first place because this area was remote and relatively unpopulated. Those conditions have changed dramatically,” Agran added.

Tustin City Manager William A. Huston said he thinks “it’s totally unrealistic” to think that the Tustin base will be closed.

“They have been investing millions of dollars in hangars and other things,” Huston said.

“We consider them a good neighbor,” he added. “A lot of dependants and (military) personnel live in the community.”

LOCAL MILITARY BASES AT A GLANCEThe reserve center, which began as a U.S. Navy base in 1942, has about 700 military personnel and civilian employees. It is federally owned, but operated by the California National Guard and provides support and airfield services for National Guard, Army, and Marine reserve units.

The weapons station, commissioned in 1944, has a total annual payroll of $71 million and 2,600 military personnel and civilian employees. It supplies, tests and repairs weapons for the ships of the Pacific Fleet.

The El Toro base, commissioned in 1943, has 9,900 military and civilian personnel. Combined with the corps’ Tustin Air Station, it has an annual payroll of $229 million. The base provides support for portions of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing fighter and attack jet squadrons.

Camp Pendleton, with 40,400 military personnel and civilian employees, is a major recruit training center for the corps and has an annual payroll of $462 million.

The Tustin base, commissioned in 1942, employs 4,300 military and civilian personnel. It provides support services for the helicopter squadrons of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.