Supervisors Agree to Explore Cargo Flights at El Toro

In a move that critics fear could hasten development of an international airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, a divided Orange County Board of Supervisors decided Tuesday to formally explore flying commercial cargo jets out of the base before the Marines leave in 1999.

The action shatters the fragile detente between the county and South County officials whom the supervisors two months ago charged with developing a non-aviation plan for the 4,700-acre base.

“This issue is so contentious that for them to take this step is despicable and dishonest,” said Christina L. Shea, Irvine mayor and a board member of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority. “They are disrupting the whole planning process. This is war.”

But Supervisor Charles V. Smith, who supports an international airport and use of cargo flights, said the board’s move is critical to the county’s economic health.

“The question is rudimentary,” Smith said. “With regards to moving goods, does Orange County want to control its own destiny and strengthen its independence or lose its autonomy and be led into the 21st century?”

Only 4% of goods manufactured in the county for export are flown out of John Wayne Airport, officials said. Smith and others say the county is losing $4.9 billion annually by having cargo shipped from airports outside the county. That money includes revenue that goes to other airports, taxes and economic activities generated by the airports.

The board majority’s interest in cargo flights from El Toro deepened the wound over the proposed international airport. While supporters tout its economic benefits, those who oppose it say an international airport would have a negative impact on noise, traffic congestion, safety and property values.

Although divided 3 to 2, the board Tuesday instructed county officials to begin discussions with the military, the Federal Aviation Administration and the cargo industry to determine the feasibility and environmental consequences of having cargo flights at the base.

The idea still faces significant obstacles, including a 1990 federal law sponsored by Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) that prohibits civilian aircraft from regularly using the runways at the base until the Marines pull out as part of the base closure.

Cox pushed the legislation to help assure that El Toro would not be used to reduce air overcrowding at John Wayne Airport while the base was still in military hands. The law won praise from surrounding communities such as Irvine but was opposed by airport supporters who saw a joint commercial-military use as the first step in turning El Toro into an international airport.

The law states that the “Secretary of the Navy may not enter into any agreement that provides for . . . or allows civilian aircraft to regularly use” the base.

Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson said having cargo flights at El Toro before the Marines leave would hurt efforts to pursue non-aviation uses of the base. ETRPA recently proposed several such options, including a museum, university, entertainment complex and housing.

“This is a foot in the door,” Wilson said. “Once you have cargo flights there, how are you going to stop it?”

Supervisor Jim Silva, an airport supporter, said cargo flights from El Toro are a viable option despite the Cox legislation.

“I think there is certain room for negotiations,” he said. “I don’t think this is a closed deal. I think once you get one cargo carrier in there, others will follow. It’s a matter of the market.”

The Southern California Assn. of Governments recently projected that regional air cargo demand would increase from 3 million tons in 1995 to 8.9 million tons by 2020. In Orange County, the association expects cargo tonnage to increase from 416,000 in 1995 to 1.6 million by 2020.

County officials say there is a need for cargo service in Orange County, and at least one of the largest carriers, Federal Express, has indicated interest in flying out of El Toro.

Federal Express and United Parcel Service handle 55% of domestic cargo needs, county officials said.

“We have expressed our interest at various times,” said Jess Bunn, spokesman for Federal Express. “We would sure be interested in discussing it further. As far as I know, we have not reviewed any interim proposals.”

UPS officials, however, said they would not increase the number of flights out of Orange County even if they could use El Toro. Currently, UPS has one planeload of cargo a day out of John Wayne.

“We are not going to be building a West Coast air hub if El Toro opens because Ontario is our hub,” said Bruce McRay, spokesman for UPS. “John Wayne is taking care of us.”

County planners maintain that allowing cargo flights from El Toro would contribute to the county’s economy and would not leave the base standing empty when the Marines pull out.

Capt. Matt Morgan, a spokesman at the base, said the Marines would not accept joint use of the facility because of national security and safety reasons.

He said, however, that other interim-use options exist, including leasing out warehouse space, the golf course and stables and allowing cargo flights--once all the Marine squadrons have left the base. Interim use refers to when the Marines have departed but have not turned the base over to the county.

The earliest interim use for cargo flights after the military abandons the base would be April 1999, Morgan said. Any interim use of the base would require an environmental impact study, he said.

“We are looking for all sorts of interim uses at this base,” Morgan said. “It gets us closer to turning over the property and creates a revenue stream.”

Because of Cox’s legislation, it would be wrong to try to use the base for cargo flights, Wilson argued.

“It’s a waste of time and energy to pursue it,” he said. “June 1999 is not that far off. Why spend a few months looking at whether a few cargo flights could fly out of there?”

Silva said he has talked with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) about the cargo issue and both agree the county should seek joint use. Silva plans to discuss the matter with federal officials in Washington next month.

Also on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted 3 to 2 to appeal San Diego Superior Court Judge Judith McConnell’s ruling in October on the county’s environmental impact report for the airport plan. She found some key sections inadequate and ordered the county to do further work on the massive environmental document.

Although McConnell denied airport opponents’ request to halt the planning process until the report is corrected, ETRPA attorney Richard Jacobs said he intends to ask for another injunction if the county moves forward with the cargo flight plan.

“They have [many] levels of problems,” Jacobs said. “All in all, this strikes me as a very long ways from a done deal.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Package Deal

Orange County supervisors agreed Tuesday to seek commercial cargo flights out of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station before the Marines leave the base in 1999. A quick look at Orange County cargo that moves by air:

* 4%--about 21,000 tons--departs from John Wayne Airport

* 96% leaves from Ontario or Los Angeles international airports

* Current cargo: 535,000 tons

* Projected cargo in 2020: 1.6 million tons

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Pro Argument

The $4.9 billion in airport fees, taxes and related revenue could be gained by county.

“With regards to moving goods, does Orange County want to control its own destiny and strengthen its independence or lose its autonomy and be led into the 21st century?”

--Supervisor Charles V. Smith

****

Con Argument

Cargo flights allow airport plans to get a “foot in the door” before a base use design is final

“Once you have cargo flights there, how are you going to stop it? . . . It’s a wast of time and energy to pursue it. June 1999 is not that far off.”

--Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson

Source: County of Orange