Plan to Test Commercial Jet Noise at El Toro Scrapped

Liability concerns have grounded Supervisor Don Saltarelli’s plan to have commercial aircraft fly in and out of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station so residents could hear what a proposed civilian airport at the military base would sound like.

“I’m certainly upset about this,” Saltarelli said Thursday. “I think this would have been a good thing to do.”

Saltarelli said his proposed experiment has been stalled by too many legal tangles involving liability, environmental guidelines and temporarily shutting down military operations.

The Board of Supervisors will vote next month on how to reuse El Toro when the military departs in 1999. Alternatives include turning El Toro into a commercial airport serving up to 38.3 million passengers a year, turning it into a cargo-general aviation facility or using the base for non-aviation uses.

Backers say an airport will bring lucrative jobs and boost the economy, while opponents have concerns about noise, traffic, pollution and safety.

Saltarelli said he opposes plans to turn El Toro into one of the nation’s largest commercial airports. But he is willing to consider a smaller airport with limits like those in place at John Wayne Airport, where passenger and cargo use is curbed and night flights are banned.

“I believe that the citizens of south Orange County have every right the citizens of Newport Beach have, to have as small a use as is absolutely necessary, and with very significant restrictions,” Saltarelli said.

In other developments Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Navy is moving forward with its federally mandated environmental study of the 4,700-acre military base and its reuses. Public meetings are planned for later this month.

Some critics say the federal government should at least wait until the county has decided on a base reuse plan. Larry Agran, former Irvine mayor and airport opponent, said the base reuse process is turning into a “rushed, rubber-stamp project.”

Tuesday’s elections have also raised concerns about the future of the El Toro Citizens Advisory Commission.

San Clemente Councilman Scott Diehl lost his reelection bid and must now be replaced on the El Toro commission. County counsel is researching whether that change must take place before a crucial Nov. 20 meeting at which the advisory commission will make its recommendation on El Toro’s reuse.

Complicating matters is whether the county can find someone from the 5th Supervisorial District to take Diehl’s place.

“I seriously wonder whether anyone will come forward,” said Diehl, who said he felt obligated to become involved to make sure South County residents have a say on the panel. “I hope someone does.”