PUBLIC WORKSHOP, FIRST TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED

(Los Angeles, California -- April 28, 2004) A public workshop and the first two of at least six public hearings on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and the Final Master Plan (Alternative D) for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) have been scheduled.

A public workshop on the FEIR will be held Monday, May 10, 2004, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Proud Bird Restaurant Grand Ballroom, 11022 Aviation Boulevard, adjacent to the airport. The workshop will provide information on the FEIR, its format and contents, and guidance on how to review the responses to comments. It will also describe the next steps in the LAX Master Plan program decision-making process. Interested parties will have the opportunity to visit exhibits and speak with experts about the impacts of the proposed project and learn how to access the written responses to comments.

The first public hearing will be a joint meeting of the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) and City Planning Commission (CPC) Monday, May 24, 2004, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Room 515 A&B.

The BOAC will receive testimony from the public on the Final Master Plan (Alternative D) and the FEIR. The BOAC will subsequently determine from this testimony if the BOAC should approve the matters before it, including the Airport Layout Plan, the Final Master Plan, and the Final EIR.

The City Planning Commission and its hearing officer will hear testimony from the public on the General Plan amendments, including the LAX Plan, Code changes, zone changes and the LAX Specific Plan. The Advisory Agency (the director of Planning) will hear testimony on the proposed track maps.

The second joint hearing is scheduled Monday, June 14, 2004, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. also at the Convention Center, Rooms 515 A&B. The purpose of this joint hearing is for BOAC to formally consider for approval the Airport Layout Plan and the Final LAX Master Plan (Alternative D), certify the Final EIR, and to make recommendations on the other elements of LAWA's application.

The CPC and the Advisory Agency will also take action on the elements of the application under their jurisdiction. Once the CPC approves the LAX Master Plan Final EIR and entitlements documentation, staff will forward it to the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) for their review and action.

Additional public hearings will be announced at least 30 days before they are scheduled.