San Diego May Consider Five Military Sites as Potential Locations for New Airport

Five regional military installations should be studied as potential locations for a new San Diego airport, a site selection advisory group recommended today. The Airport Site Selection Program Public Working Group voted 8-5 to recommend that the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority study the military sites, spokeswoman Diana Lucero said. Four members abstained. The airport authority's nine-member board is expected to take up the issue at its meeting Monday, Lucero said. Considered as possible military sites for a new airport are Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Miramar East, Camp Pendleton, Naval Air Station North Island and March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County. Study of the locations was withheld by the airport authority pending the outcome of the Defense Department's recent base realignment and closure process. None of the proposed military installations made the list. Citing air space issues and other concerns, the military has indicated it is opposed to any civilian use of bases for an airport. Military officials made a presentation against study of the installations before the advisory group today, Lucero said. A similar presentation will be made at the airport authority board's meeting on Monday. A public vote is slated for next November on a location for a new airport. The airport authority, which operates San Diego International Airport, is charged with studying the proposed sites. Also under consideration are sites in Boulevard, the Imperial County desert and an expansion of Lindbergh Field.

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