October 1972 Superior Court denies Sierra Club request for injunction to halt land acquisition. Commission resumes buying land after being stopped by preliminary injunction two weeks earlier. Draft of environmental impact report is submitted to airport commissioners by San Francisco firm. Study shows need for new major air transportation facility in the Los Angeles region and names Palmdale as the most favorable site because it offers the least dislocation of homes and businesses, the highest availability of vacant land, least airspace conflicts, initial available ground access, least major air and noise pollution potential, and visible community and institutional support. January 1976 To make use of land acquired, the department appoints an agricultural land developer and joins with the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency and the Palmdale Water District in funding an environmental study for the proposed Palmdale Eastside Agricultural Project to provide additional water service to the area.
Investigation continues into the viability of certain crops, such as sesame seeds.
January 1977 Golden West Airlines begins service at Palmdale. Service ends in January 1982. May 1978 Airport commissioners adopt environmental impact report, then department staff forward the report to regional offices of Federal Aviation Administration for the federal review process. It was five years in preparation. May 1979 California Transportation Department notifies the airports department of state position that a new application and review of the site is required because 10 years passed since the site permit was granted in 1969 with the airport not being developed.