Statement of U.S. Rep. Christopher Cox On the Future of MCAS-El Toro After the Passage of Measure W

At long last, the decision on an El Toro airport has been definitively made. Now, the process of implementing Measure W can begin.  I am very pleased that the Department of Defense has assured me they will honor the wishes of the voters who enacted Measure W.  The Environmental Impact Statement just filed by the federal government has been written to comfortably comply with Measure W, so that no aviation use will be further pursued by Washington.  Subject to the applicable zoning authority of our local government, the Pentagon will now be able to auction portions of the land consistent with Measure W for the benefit of the Base Closure Fund and our men and women in uniform.  As the U.S. Representative for the base, I look forward to working with Secretary Rumsfeld and our local elected officials to swiftly implement the decision of the people of Orange County.