Congressman’s Airport Site Stance
Rep. Ron Packard was 50% right when he opposed two county airport sites recommended for consideration by the airport site coalition.
Even though a member of the airport site coalition committee, I too feel that the Potrero Los Pinos site would be an ecological disaster. The Cleveland National Forest should be protected! On the other hand, the south Camp Pendleton site should be considered the top choice since it is conveniently located to serve 40 million passengers annually--with rail and freeway access already in place--and meets all of the Federal Aviation Administration criteria for an international airport.
Rep. Packard spoke out just like the proverbial politician, considering only the economics and job loss in the closing of Norton Air Force Base. He should be more aware that members of the airport site coalition meet monthly, averaging over 120 members present, studying and evaluating over 30 potential sites in the past 14 months!
The Marine Corps has been very cooperative in its deliberations and favors the southern site rather than the Las Pulgas location. They too realize that it will take 10 years to build when it will be urgently needed to relieve the overburden now building up at L.A. International and John Wayne airports.
OTTO KIESSIG
Laguna Hills
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