PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR LAX MASTER PLAN TO END NOVEMBER 7
(Los Angeles, California -- October 31, 2003) Los Angeles World Airports issued a reminder that the public review period for the Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (SDEIS/EIR) for the proposed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Master Plan will conclude Friday, November 7, 2003.
This will end a total 120-day public comment period for the Supplement to the Draft EIS/EIR that began July 9, 2003. More than 1,275 people attended the 12 public hearings held throughout the Southern California region during this period. More than 1,385 comments have been submitted thus far on the environmental, economic and social effects of the development of the Enhanced Safety and Security LAX Master Plan.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and City of Los Angeles will prepare written responses to all comments spoken at the public hearings, as well as to comments submitted in writing on the joint Draft EIS/EIR and the Supplement to the Draft EIS/EIR. All comments and responses will be included in the Final EIS/EIR that will be considered by decision-makers prior to any action on the LAX Master Plan.
All comments to federal and local officials on the proposed LAX Master Plan and SDEIS/EIR must be received by 5:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time, Friday, November 7, 2003. Comments received after this date will not be processed.
Please send comments to:
Mr. David Kessler, AICP
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
AWP-611.2
P.O. Box 92007
Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007
Or
Mr. Jim Ritchie
City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles World Airports
Master Plan Office
P.O. Box 92216
Los Angeles, CA 90009-2216
More information on the LAX Master Plan, including the entire contents of the Supplement to the Draft EIS/EIR, is available online at www.laxmasterplan.org.
In conjunction with the official public comment period, airport officials also conducted three additional Environmental Justice Workshops to inform minority and low-income communities directly affected by LAX operations about the impacts and benefits of the airport's proposed Master Plan. Environmental Justice focuses on providing minority and low-income communities a level playing field to prevent or mitigate environmental impacts associated with public works projects from unfairly burdening them. In 1994, President Executive Order 12898 was enacted requiring all federal agencies to make Environmental Justice a priority. In 1999, California Senate Bill 115 was signed making Environmental Justice part of California law. In 2001, representatives from the General Accounting Office visited Los Angeles World Airports' Environmental Justice workshops and noted that the LAWA program was a positive example for other airports nationwide.