[CPEO-MEF] El Toro Vote to Seek Full Navy Cleanup

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

[NOTE: THE LA TIMES REQUIRES REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO VIEW THE FULL TEXT 
OF THIS ARTICLE.  REGISTRATION IS FREE AND ONLY TAKES A FEW MOMENTS.]

August 7, 2002  
El Toro Vote to Seek Full Navy Cleanup

Land use: Orange County supervisors unanimously back a ballot measure to 
urge stricter detoxifying of the closed Marine air station before its 
sale.

Times Headlines    
By JEAN O. PASCO and EVAN HALPER, TIMES STAFF WRITERS

Orange County voters in November will be asked to urge the Navy to 
completely clean the former El Toro Marine base before it is sold, 
thrusting the issue of toxic pollution on the site to center stage as 
redevelopment plans proceed.

The base, which closed in July 1999, is on the federal Superfund list as 
one of the nation's most polluted sites. The Nov. 5 ballot measure asks 
the Navy to reconcile its cleanup plan for El Toro with studies by 
Irvine and the county contention that the Navy's plan is inadequate.     

  
The move Tuesday to involve voters was unanimous among county 
supervisors--a rarity in El Toro's tumultuous eight-year planning 
history.

Public attention on the 4,700-acre base has focused on whether it should 
be rebuilt as a commercial airport. Voters in March grounded that plan, 
instead approving zoning for a large urban park.

Supervisors agreed Tuesday that a swift and complete cleanup of El Toro 
transcends arguments over what should be built there.

A public call for full cleanup could resonate beyond Orange County. 
Congress is moving toward approving more military base closings in 2005, 
meaning more communities would be eyeing the Navy's record at El Toro.

Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Cynthia P. Coad, who drafted the 
measure, said the county has an obligation to ensure the Navy cleans the 
land before it is sold. 

This article can be viewed in its entirety at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-supes7aug07.story

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~