(July 23, 2003) -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has thrown cold water on a proposal by the City of Los Angeles to operate a commercial airport at El Toro, telling Congressman Chris Cox (R., Newport Beach) in a letter LBReport.com posts below that the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, including the FAA, "does not intend to intercede in the El Toro reuse process."

Secretary Mineta's letter adds: "Our jurisdiction and historical exercise of our authority does not extend so far as to overrule the Navy’s authority under the base closure statute as owner of the property or the decisions of local governments regarding use of that property…. We have no plans to interrupt the Navy’s process."

Congress retains the theoretical legal power to involve itself in the issue and direct the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to pursue the L.A. plan.

To view Secretary Mineta's letter, click: Mineta July 22 letter to Cong. Cox re El Toro

Previous coverage:

OC Regional Airport Authority & OC Airport Working Group Sue Over "Great Park" EIR & Related Actions

L.A. County Bd. Of Supervisors Votes 4-1 To Support L.A. Plan To Operate Airport @ El Toro...And Adds County Support For Sen. Murray's SR 23; We Post Motion Verbatim As Amended

Orange County Regional Airport Authority -- Comprised of 14 North OC Cities -- Backs L.A. Bid to Operate El Toro As Comm'l Airport; We Post Resolution

Top Navy Brass Says USN Has No Interest In Leasing Any Part of El Toro For Aviation And Is Proceeding With Plans To Sell It

State Senator Kevin Murray (D., Los Angeles) Introduces Resolution Backing L.A.'s Offer To Operate El Toro As Commercial Airport; We Post Text

Dissenting OC Supervisors Smith & Silva Send Letter to U.S. Trans. Sec'y Mineta Applauding L.A. Proposal To Operate Airport @ El Toro; We Post Letter

OC Supervisors Vote 3-2 To Remove Pro-El Toro Airport Supervisor Smith As OC SCAG Rep...And Replace Him With Anti-El Toro Airport Supervisor Norby OC Bd. of Supes Votes 3-2 To Send Letter to U.S. Trans. Sec'y Mineta Blasting L.A. Proposal To Operate Airport @ El Toro; We Post Letter

OC Cong. Chris Cox -- South of OC Cong. Rohrabacher -- Reacts To L.A. Proposal To Operate Comm'l Airport @ El Toro; We Post Statement Verbatim

LA Airport Agency Seeks To Operate El Toro As Airport; LB-HB Cong. Rohrabacher Supports Plan Subject To OC Voter Approval; We Post L.A.'s 37-Page Legal Brief Style Memo