Revocation of Class E Airspace, Revision of Class D Airspace; Torrance, CA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AWP-34]

Revocation of Class E Airspace, Revision of Class D Airspace;

Torrance, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action will revoke the Class E airspace arrival

extensions and revise the Class D airspace area for Torrance Municipal

Airport, CA.

DATES: Effective Date: 0901 UTC March 25, 1999. Comment date: Comments

for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before

February 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the direct final rule in triplicate to:

Federal Aviation Administration, Attn: Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-

520, Docket No. 98-AWP-34, Air Traffic Division, P.O. Box 92007,

Worldway Postal Center, Los Angeles, California 90009.

The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant

Chief Counsel, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration,

Room 6007, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business

hours at the Office of the Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic

Division at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra Trindle, Air Traffic Division,

Airspace Specialist, AWP-520.10, Western-Pacific Region, Federal

Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California

90261, telephone (310) 725-6613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The intended effect of this action is to

incorporate the Class E airspace arrival extensions (E4) into the Class

D airspace area associated with Torrance Municipal Airport and lower

the ceiling of the reconfigured Class D airspace area to 2,400 feet

Mean Sea Level (MSL). An airspace review and analysis of Torrance has

made this action necessary. In accordance with FAA Order 7400.2D,

Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters, if the length of an arrival

extension is less than 2 miles from the surface area, it shall remain a

part of the basic surface area. This is the case at Torrance Municipal

Airport. The existing Class E airspace for Torrance was published and

charted in error as an arrival extension and should be a part of the

Class D surface area. The revised altitude of 2,400 feet MSL will

provide aircraft the opportunity to operate over Torrance Class D

airspace at 2,500 feet MSL and above without having to obtain

permission from Torrance Airport Traffic Control Tower. This is a

commonly used altitude in this area for aircraft flying off shore to

avoid the Los Angeles Class B airspace. Class D airspace areas are

published in Paragraph 5000 and Class E4 airspace areas are published

in Paragraph 6004 of FAA Order 7400.9F dated September 10, 1998, and

effective September 16, 1998, which is incorporated by reference in 14

CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document

would be subsequently removed from this Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse

or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule.

A substantial number of previous opportunities provided to the public

to comment on essentially identical actions have resulted in negligible

adverse comments or objections. Unless a written adverse or negative

comment or a written notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative

is received within the comment period, the regulation will become

effective on the date specified above. After the close of the comment

period, the FAA will publish a document in the Federal Register

indicating that no adverse or negative comments were received and

confirming the date on which the final rule will become effective. If

the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an adverse or negative

comment, or written notice of intent to submit such a comment, a

document withdrawing the direct final rule will be published in the

Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking may be published

with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not

preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on

this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by

submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire.

Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted

in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All

communications received on or before the closing date for comments will

be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of

the comments received. Factual information that supports the

commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating

the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional

rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might

suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be

available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the

Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this

action will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket No. 98-AWP-34.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct

effects on the States, on the relationship between the national

government and the States, or on the distribution of power and

responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final

rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and

[[Page 3207]]

unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons

discussed in the preamble, this regulation only involves an established

body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments

are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this

regulation--(1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979);

and (3) does not warrant preparation of a Regulatory Evaluation as the

anticipated impact is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that

will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is

certified that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the

Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND

CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24

FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389; 14 CFR 11.69.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16,

1998, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6004 Class E airspace areas designated as an extension

to a Class D surface area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4 Torrance, CA [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 5000 Class D airspace.

* * * * *

AWP CA D Torrance, CA [Revised]

Torrance Municipal Airport, CA

(Lat. 33 deg.48'12'' N, long. 118 deg.20'22'' W)

Los Angeles VORTAC

(Lat. 33 deg.55'59'' N, long. 118 deg.25'55'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including

2,400 feet MSL within a 2.6 mile radius of the Torrance Municipal

Airport including that airspace within 2 miles each side of the Los

Angeles VORTAC 149 deg. radial, extending from the 2.6 mile radius

of the Torrance Municipal Airport to 4 miles northwest of the

airport and within 2 miles of each side of the 304 deg. bearing from

the airport, extending from the 2.6 mile radius of the airport to 4

miles northwest of the airport and within 1.8 miles each side of the

Torrance localizer course extending from the 2.6 mile radius of the

airport to 4.4 miles southeast of the airport. This Class D airspace

area is effective during the specific dates and times established in

advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will

thereafter be continuously published in the Airport/Facility

Directory.

Issued in Los Angeles, California, on January 4, 1999.

John Clancy,

Manager, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific Region.

[FR Doc. 99-1355 Filed 1-20-99; 8:45 am]

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