County supports airport service expansion plan

The supervisors' support for expanding Palmdale and Ontario airports comes less than a week after a master plan for expanding LAX concluded there was little hope of having a viable regional airport in Palmdale anytime soon.

"The recently released environmental impact report for expanding Los Angeles International Airport failed to seriously consider the Antelope Valley's Air Force Plant 42 and Palmdale Airport to reduce congestion at LAX," said Antonovich, whose 5th district includes the Antelope Valley. "Los Angeles City continues keeping the door shut on providing air service to the Antelope Valley, claiming that the Valley will not be able to support a major air facility in the next 20 years.

"However, LAX has a signed contract with the Air Force to use Plant 42's terminal and runway for immediate passenger service."

The draft environmental impact statement/environmental impact report has gone into circulation for a 180-day public review period. It outlines the findings of a five-year effort to map out LAX expansion in preparation for growth in air traffic demand on the area.

Antonovich noted that, in the 1960s, the city of Los Angeles acquired Ontario Airport and 17,000 acres for a Palmdale Airport to meet the future population's needs. Later, it signed a contract to utilize Plant 42.

"Los Angeles County urgently needs a regional air transportation system," Antonovich said. "If Los Angeles City refuses to develop Palmdale Airport, then Palmdale ought to exercise eminent domain to build an airport under a joint powers agreement with Palmdale, Lancaster and Los Angeles County."

The board's action requests that L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan and the City Council of Los Angeles direct Los Angeles World Airports to give serious consideration to full expansion of air service at Palmdale and Ontario.