THREE OPEN HOUSE/PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR LAX SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT STUDY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

 (Los Angeles, California – August 23, 2012)  Three open house/public meetings are scheduled by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to enable interested parties to obtain information and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Specific Plan Amendment Study (SPAS).  No decisions on the project will be made at these open house/public meetings.  The first hour of the open house/public meetings will allow attendees to review and learn more about the SPAS Draft EIR, SPAS Report, SPAS history and SPAS alternatives.  The remaining 90 minutes are reserved for formal public comments on the Draft EIR.

The open house/public meetings will be held:

·         Saturday, August 25, 2012, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Proud Bird Restaurant, 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles

·         Tuesday, August 28, 2012,  5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Los Angeles Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 West 5th St., Los Angeles

·         Wednesday, August 29, 2012,5:30 p.m.to 8 p.m., at the Proud Bird Restaurant, 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles

From September 10, 2012 until October 10, 2012, interested parties unable to attend any of the three open house/public meetings in August can view a virtual meeting online at www.LAXSPASVirtualMeeting.com where they will be able to explore the meeting materials and submit comments.  

LAWA has prepared a Draft EIR for the LAX SPAS in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The SPAS identifies and evaluates nine potential alternatives to certain components of the LAX Master Plan program, referred to as Yellow Light

Projects, including various configurations for the north airfield, terminal improvements, and LAX’s ground transportation system . 

The SPAS also identifies potential amendments to the LAX Specific Plan that plan for the modernization and improvement of LAX in a manner that is designed for a practical capacity

of 78.9 million annual passengers while enhancing safety and security, minimizing environmental impacts on the surrounding communities, and creating conditions that encourage airlines to use other airports in the region. 

One of the alternatives provides for implementation of all the Yellow Light Projects, another proposes none of the Yellow Light Projects and the remaining seven propose various options to the Yellow Light Projects.

The majority of the environmental impacts presented in the Draft EIR are a result of regional development and annual passenger growth that is expected to occur independent of the implementation of any SPAS Alternative. The Draft EIR nevertheless analyzes and identifies mitigation for impacts related to such growth.Implementation of any of the studied alternatives, including implementation of the existing Master Plan, would result in significant and unavoidable impacts, including: on- and off-airport transportation, air quality, greenhouse gases, human health risk, land use, aircraft noise, construction equipment noise, solid waste, and related cumulative impacts. 

Impacts to biological, coastal and cultural resources, hydrology/water quality, transit noise and vibration, and law enforcement services  would be less than significant with mitigation.  Impacts to aesthetics, safety, hazardous materials, road traffic noise, fire protection services, energy, wastewater generation and water supply would be less than significant.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report is available for review and public comment until October 10, 2012.  The document can be reviewed online atwww.LAXspas.org , or at the following locations (review times vary by location):

·         Westchester-Loyola Village Branch Library, 7114 W. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles

·         Bethune Regional Branch Library, 3900 S. Western Ave, Los Angeles

·         Culver City Library, 4975 Overland Ave., Culver City

·         Inglewood Library, 101 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood

·         El Segundo Library, 111 West Mariposa Ave., El Segundo

·         Hawthorne Library, 127 Grevillea Ave., Hawthorne

Written comments can be submitted at any of the three meetings, via e-mail to spaseircomments@lawa.org , via online comment form at www.LAXspas.org , through the LAX SPAS Virtual Meeting site ( www.LAXSPASVirtualMeeting.com ) between September 10, 2012 and October 10, 2012, or in writing to: Los Angeles World Airports, Facilities Planning Division, Attention: Diego Alvarez, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 9004-5803.  All written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

For additional information on the LAX Specific Plan Amendment Study, contact SPAS Program Director Diego Alvarez at (424) 646-7690, or visitwww.LAXspas.org ..