O.C. releases environmental review of expected airport growth

Orange County has released a draft report on environmental effects that could result from proposed increases in operational capacity at John Wayne Airport.

The changes come as part of an update to a settlement agreement involving the county, the city of Newport Beach and two nonprofit advocacy groups, the Airport Working Group and Stop Polluting Our Newport.

First established in 1985 and set to expire at the end of 2005, the agreement dictates the number of flights and hours of operation at the airport, among other matter.

It was modified and extended in 2003, and is now set to expire at the end of 2015. The environmental review is part of the process for amending and renewing it a third time.

Under the newest proposal, passenger limits and flights would increase incrementally over time. The airport’s nighttime noise-abatement curfew would remain in effect.

Public comments on the draft environmental impact report are being accepted until 5 p.m. July 8.

The report is available online, at the John Wayne Airport administrative office at 3160 Airway Ave in Santa Ana., and the planning department in the Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is expected to review the amended settlement agreement and draft environmental impact report later this summer.

Foxhall writes for Times Community News.