The Regional Airport Planning Committee late last week gave thegreen light to the blueprint, which could mean filling in the SanFrancisco Bay to allow expansion of both airports' runways.

Although only advisory, the group's vote is echoed by politicalpowerhouses such as San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who wants toextend the new runways two miles into the bay in order to alleviateworsening air traffic. San Francisco Airport is infamous for longflight delays attributable to high air-traffic volume andfrequently foggy weather.

The plan would be subject to an in-depth environmental impactreport before approval. Environmentalists decry the idea and saythere are alternatives to expansion into the bay, but airportofficials and air-traffic controllers maintain that the newdevelopment is crucial to the economic future of the San Franciscoarea as well as Silicon Valley.