ETRPA TO SUPPORT RETROCESSION OF JURISDICTION
                        FOR MCAS/EL TORO

Contact: Meg Waters 949-718-4977 or cell: 949-584-4977

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ETRPA TO SUPPORT RETROCESSION OF JURISDICTION FOR MCAS/EL TORO

IRVINE, CA – JUNE 9, 2000 -- Today, the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority announced it will support Retrocession of Jurisdiction of the former MCAS/El Toro to remove any obstacles to the continued operation of the Community Services Program on the base property. ETRPA will forward a formal letter to the State Lands Commission stating its support for the transfer of the base from Federal to State Jurisdiction. According to ETRPA Chairman Susan Withrow, "We are calling upon the Navy and the County to move quickly to reassure the various community program participants at El Toro that that the programs will continue without interruption."

Withrow stated that ETRPA’s position on retrocession is based on a complete legal review by ETRPA lawyers and planners. "We are confident that there cannot be any interim aviation at El Toro. We had hoped to make a formal agreement with the County to reassure our constituents. However, the County failed to negotiate in good faith with ETRPA insisting that we accept construction of aviation facilities during the interim period. This is unacceptable to us, and the majority of Orange County residents who oppose the aviation use of El Toro. Unfortunately, the Board of Supervisor’s majority would rather close these vital community service programs than reach a reasonable agreement with ETRPA or admit the truth that there will never be any interim flights or aviation-related construction."

ETRPA bases its support of retrocession on confidence that the overwhelming passage of Measure F has eliminated any real possibility of aviation at El Toro. Measure F requires a two-thirds majority vote of the people before any aviation use can begin at El Toro or construction of aviation-related facilities. In addition, the Department of the Navy has clearly stated that any interim aviation use of the former base would require full environmental review and clearance subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Further, the Navy has stated that there will be no interim aviation or aviation construction at El Toro under the pending Master Lease Agreement. Finally, the County’s own Draft Environmental Impact Report 573 states that it does not cover interim aviation at El Toro, and no interim aviation uses are included in the Base Transition Plan or the draft Master Lease Agreement.

ETRPA Vice Chairman Allan Songstad called upon the County government to put airport politics aside and expedite completion of a Master Lease Agreement with the Navy. "The Board of Supervisors are the custodians of a failed process which has kept these programs hostage for over a year. Their duplicity in negotiations with ETRPA has greatly jeopardized the continuation of valuable community services at El Toro. ETRPA wants to take a leadership role in ending this controversy and to allow Orange County residents to enjoy the available services at the base."

ETRPA board member Richard Dixon noted, "The primary reason for ETRPA’s opposition to Retrocession of Jurisdiction was to prevent the Board of Supervisors from beginning air cargo operations at El Toro. This strategy has succeeded. Meanwhile, the El Toro debate continues to divide the County. The board majority has once again failed to respond to the needs of the citizens while ETRPA has twice unanimously passed resolutions supporting the continued operation of the Community Services Program and initiation of a revenue-generating Master Lease Agreement."

ETRPA’s Executive Director Paul D. Eckles was directly involved in the negotiations with the County. "Clearly, the County was not and is not serious about an agreement. We ultimately lost patience with their misleading and insincere posture. Our decision to support retrocession is in keeping with our consistent position in allowing the non-aviation use of the base property," stated Eckles.