>>> LAKE COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE IN THE MIDST OF TALKING ABOUT SELLING LAND FROM THE FOREST PRESERVE TO THE KEEGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT.

IT'S RAISING QUESTIONS AND DRAWING PUSHBACK.

PATTY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

THIS AIRPORT, WHY DOES IT WANT THIS EXTRA LAND THAT HAPPENS TO BE FOREST PRESERVE LAND?

>> THE AIRPORT FOR CONTEXT IS FOR GENERALLY PRIVATE SMALL AIRPLANES, LARGER CORPORATE 737S, LIGHT FLIGHTS AND COAST GUARD.

THEY HAVE A 6000 FOOT RUNWAY THAT THEY SAY HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.

THEY WANT TO BUILD A 7000 FOOT RUNWAY AND TO DO THE LONGER RUNWAY THEY NEED SOME ADJACENT LAND FOR A PROTECTION SAFETY BUFFER ZONE.

THAT ADJACENT LAND HAPPENS TO BE FOREST PRESERVE.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A GRAPHIC OF THESE RUNWAY PLANS.

WHAT'S THE RESPONSE FROM FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> IT'S A MIXED BAG.

YOU HAVE OFFICIALS FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WHO APPRECIATE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE.

THEN YOU HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE ON PRINCIPLE SAYING THE FOREST PRESERVE SHOULD NEVER BE SELLING ANY LAND.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTED AND PRESERVED.

SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE SIDES.

>> CAN THE AIRPORT EXPAND THE RUNWAY AND NOT ACQUIRE THAT LAND?

>> IT COULDN'T HAVE THAT 7000 FOOT RUNWAY.

PEOPLE ARE SUSPICIOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED THE LONGER RUNWAY FOUR.

THEY ARE WORRIED THAT THE REAL PURPOSE IS TO BRING IN MORE JETS, BIGGER JETS, THE AIRPORT SAYS , WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO THE PASSENGER ROUTE AND WE ARE NOT TRYING TO BE THE NEXT ROCKFORD WITH CARGO PLANES.

IT'S JUST THAT FOR SAFETY, THE KINDS OF PLANES THAT ARE CURRENTLY USING THESE RUNWAYS NEED THAT LONGER RUNWAY.

>> WHERE IS THIS IN THE PROCESS?

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE WAITING ON AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS YET OF, IS IT GOING TO BRING MORE POLLUTION, MORE NOISE, WILL IT BE AN ISSUE FOR WILDLIFE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ONCE THAT IS RELEASED AND POLICE -- PEOPLE GET TO REVIEW IT, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC MEETING, A FEEDBACK PROCESS AND THEN THE FAA CAN SAY YES OR NO OR DO SOME MORE WORK.

THE FOREST PRESERVE CAN OBVIOUSLY SAY NO.

>> HOW MUCH LAND ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

IS IT FROM THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY?

>> NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT MONEY YET BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BLOW A DEAL.

>> SO WE DON'T KNOW THE COST.

>> NO ONE IS SAYING HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD BE SPENT ON THE LAND BUT WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM.

DOES THAT MEAN TAXPAYERS WILL PAY FOR IT TWICE?

LOTS OF QUESTIONS ARE STILL UP IN THE AIR AND HOPEFULLY DURING THIS PUBLIC PROCESS, A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION WILL COME OUT.