LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The first public hearing on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and the Final Master Plan (Alternative D) for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will be held Monday, May 24, 2004. The public hearing will begin at 3 p.m. and may go as late as 10 p.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Room 515 A & B. Free parking will be available in the Convention Center's West Hall parking facility.
This first public hearing will be jointly conducted by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC), the Los Angeles City Planning Commission (CPC), and the Advisory Agency. The BOAC will receive testimony from the public on the Final Master Plan (Alternative D) and the FEIR. No action will be taken at Monday's hearing.
The initial announcement of the hearing stated that parking would be available at a cost of $10. Los Angeles World Airports, the City agency that owns and operates LAX and three other Southern California airports, decided to cover the cost of parking to remove any financial barrier to attendance by interested parties. LAWA officials emphasize that free parking will be available ONLY in the Convention Center's West Hall parking facility.
The City Planning Commission and its hearing officer will hear testimony from the public on the General Plan amendments, including the LAX Plan, Code amendments, zone changes and the LAX Specific Plan. The Advisory Agency will hear testimony on the proposed tract maps.
In addition, a joint meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 14, 2004, beginning at 3 p.m., also at the Convention Center, Rooms 515 A & B. The purpose of this joint meeting is for the Board of Airport Commissioners to formally consider for approval the Airport Layout Plan and the Final LAX Master Plan (Alternative D), certify the FEIR, and to make recommendations on the other elements of LAWA's application. Also on June 14, the City Planning Commission and the Advisory Agency will take action on the elements of the application under their jurisdiction. Once the CPC approves the LAX Master Plan FEIR and entitlements documentation, staff will forward it to the Los Angeles City Council for its review and action.
After the City Planning Commission acts on the LAX Master Plan Program, the City will submit an application to the Los Angeles County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) for a determination on whether the proposed LAX Master Plan is consistent with the ALUC's airport land use plan.
Following ALUC action, the FEIR and related documents will be sent to the City Council for consideration and decision. Upon completion of the City process, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will complete the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The FAA is charged with coordinating the federal review and approval process, and rendering the Record of Decision.