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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2002

Release #03-02

The Department of the Navy’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for reuse for the former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro will be made public March 8, 2002.

The FEIS addresses not only aviation use as the preferred alternative but also a wide range of potential land use scenarios, including mixed use variations similar to those described in Measure W.

The analyses in the FEIS have been specifically developed so that this document would support reasonably foreseeable future land use scenarios at El Toro. Land use that is precluded as a matter of law is not "reasonably foreseeable."

The environmental documentation process will continue under the National Environmental Policy Act. The Navy’s decision concerning disposal of the former MCAS El Toro will be announced in the Record of Decision (ROD) on or before April 23, 2002. The ROD will honor the decision of Orange County voters in favor of non-aviation uses of MCAS El Toro.

If the Navy’s decision is to dispose of this property, the disposal will be accomplished by means of a public sale. This course of action will best meet the mandate of the base closure law to return this property to productive use by the community.

For more information, interested media may contact the Navy News Desk:

Lt. Cmdr. Pauline Storum or Lt. Pat McNally at (703) 697-5342