El Toro Marine Corps Air Station

El Toro Marine Corps Air Station was a military airport located near Irvine, California. It was decommissioned in 1999 and turned back over to the state and local governments. The site contains four large, intersecting runways and many wanted a civilian international airport constructed on the site. Local residents of surrounding areas such as Newport Beach[?], alarmed at the possibility of aircraft noise, lobbied for other uses. Airport proposals were defeated in two ballot initiatives in which most of the voters were from south Orange County. The results were challenged in court, and as of this writing (summer 2003) it appears that the anti-airport forces are winning and the former Marine Corps station will be developed for light-industrial uses. Meanwhile, Southern California's growing population will continue to increase passenger loads at Los Angeles International Airport and at Long Beach Airport -- both located in areas whose residents didn't get to vote on the El Toro ballot measures.

El Toro was "destroyed" in the science-fiction film Independence Day (1996).

External Links

Pro: EltoroNow.Org (http://www.eltoronow.org) Anti: EltoroAirport.Org (http://www.eltoroairport.org)