Campbell sticks with flight caps

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT-MESA -- Assemblyman John Campbell on Tuesday said he disagrees

with South County political leaders who have vowed to fight the extension

of noise restrictions at John Wayne Airport.

The Irvine Republican, in a phone interview from Sacramento, said he

could not go along with a Monday decision by the El Toro Reuse Planning

Authority to push for a larger John Wayne.

“I oppose any changes of those restrictions whatsoever,” Campbell

said. “I don’t agree with that [decision]. There’s a little bit of

posturing here.”

Campbell also reiterated his opposition to an airport at the closed El

Toro Marine base. The assemblyman, whose district includes Newport Beach

and Costa Mesa, as well as several South County cities, said he was

skeptical of claims that the county needs more flights.

On Monday, officials of nine South County cities on the authority’s

board unanimously approved a move to use familiar channels -- potential

litigation, lobbying efforts and publicity campaigns -- to block the

extension of the caps.

The airport’s noise restrictions were put in place as a result of a

1985 settlement agreement. That deal was struck between the county,

Newport Beach, Airport Working Group and Stop Polluting Our Newport to

settle lawsuits seeking to prevent the expansion of John Wayne.

The flight limits are scheduled to expire in 2005.

The restrictions cap the number of annual passengers at 8.4 million

and allow no more than 73 daily departures. Departures are allowed from 7

a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Arrivals are allowed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8

a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

Now, some South County officials are calling for an increase in annual

passengers. Authority Executive Director Paul Eckles has said John Wayne

could handle 14 million annual travelers.

Newport Beach officials vehemently dispute that number. Airport

Working Group attorney Barbara Lichman said John Wayne couldn’t

physically go beyond 10.5 million passengers.

Campbell’s stance stunned Peter Herzog, a Lake Forest councilman and

authority member.

“I’d be happy to sit down with him and explain it,” Herzog said. “He

probably needs to be brought up to speed on six years of history.”