LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The public review period for the Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (SDEIS/EIR) for the proposed Los Angeles International (LAX) Master Plan concluded today.
This ended a total 120-day public comment period for the Supplement to the Draft EIS/EIR that began July 9, 2003. During this period, 1,275 people attended the 12 public hearings held throughout the Southern California region to express their views on the environmental, economic and social effects of the development of the Enhanced Safety and Security LAX Master Plan. In addition, an estimated 2,000 written comments were submitted.
During an earlier 296-day public comment period for the Draft EIS/EIR that began Jan. 18, 2001, and concluded Nov. 9, 2001, more than 16,000 comments were submitted in writing and verbally at nine public hearings. According to airport LAX Master Plan officials, many of the earlier comments were addressed in the development of the Enhanced Safety and Security LAX Master Plan Alternative D.
The combined LAX Master Plan comment period totaled 416 days -- unprecedented for any U.S. public works project. The total combined written and verbal comments numbered approximately 18,000.
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.
More information on the LAX Master Plan, including the entire contents of the joint Draft EIS/EIR and the Supplement to the Draft EIS/EIR, is available online at www.laxmasterplan.org.
In conjunction with the official public comment periods, airport officials also conducted a total of seven 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.