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Stockton Airport Association January 6,2011 San Joaquin County Planning Commission 1601 E. Hazelton Avenue Stockton,CA 95205 Re: Use Permit PA-1000245 Dear Commissioners, The Stockton Airport Association is a local group comprised of aviators, airport tenants and related business owners with a,common interest in aviation.While we are not active politically we have a shared goal to preserve a robust, safe, and sustainable aviation community here in Stockton.Our Association is asking you to consider what we believe are legitimate long term problems with this application. Each step taken in this direction means we are one step closer to a looming and difficult predicament for our airport.We believe expansion of this land fill will compromise safety and will ultimately make the Stockton Metropolitan Airport less viable.Simply stated,allowing the expansion of this land fill will increase the population of scavenging birds and will result in an increase in associated risks. It may sound dramatic but statistics prove there is a direct relationship between increased bird populations and diminished safety for aircraft.There is no doubt an increase in bird populations will result in an increase in bird strikes. If you permit an increase in landfill operations,there is no question safety will be compromised at our airport.You should also consider that there are very few examples of landfill operations this close to an approach threshold.Common sense dictates that given its close proximity to the runway our local bird strike risks are comparatively greater. Apparently the applicant is sensitive to the hazards associated with increased land fill operations.Their inclusion of the language"No landfill activities,waste placement,disposal,composting,storage of equipment,or soil borrowing will occur on the 184 acres. No increase in currently permitted daily tonnage or land refuse foot print will occur under this application." is meant to postpone safety concerns,and we believe the language misrepresents their ultimate intent. If the applicant truly intends to curtail increased landfill operations long term,they should have no problem making landfill restrictions a condition of approval. Based on the proceeding the Stockton Airport Association requests that you deny the application as presented. If the planning commission feels compelled to amend the boundaries based on applicant assurances that they will not increase in land fill activity,then the applicant should have no objection to your making that a condition of approval.We are asking if this amendment is approved that should include clear and concise language prohibiting any future increase in land fill activities. Dave Kirsten President-Stockton Airport Association Stockton Airport Association • PO Box 2607- Lodi,CA 95241.209-333-1100 a chapter of the California Pilots Association