Briefly in the news

South County leaders filed suit Tuesday to challenge the county’s

environmental analysis of the planned El Toro airport.

Allan Songstad, the chairman of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority,

said county airport supporters have “made a mockery of the environmental

review process.”

The suit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, criticizes the

environmental report certified by the Board of Supervisors Oct. 23 as

failing to properly analyze such issues as potential westerly takeoffs

over Irvine, Newport Coast and other areas.

The county has promised to send planes north and east.

The suit also alleges the county’s environmental analysis was rigged

because the supervisors had predetermined the outcome.

The suit alleges the board majority “announced their prejudgment of

the outcome” in March and May by hiring consultants for a pro-airport

public relations campaign.