Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Los Angeles International Airport (in this Act referred to as LAX) is located in an urban environment and is surrounded on 3 sides by cities and communities in Los Angeles County, California, and is bounded on the fourth side by the Pacific Ocean. (2)LAX occupies approximately 3,400 acres, a relatively small area compared to other airports with comparable passenger volumes and aircraft operations. (3)LAX has 2 pairs of parallel runways— (A)Runways 24R and 24L, which are located north of the main terminals and known collectively as the North Runways; and (B)Runways 25R and 25L, which are located south of the main terminals and known collectively as the South Runways. (4)Los Angeles World Airports, which operates LAX, has proposed relocating Runway 24R at least 340 feet north of its current location and argues that doing so would reduce runway incursions and improve safety. (5)Historically, approximately 80 percent of runway incursions at LAX have occurred on the South Runways, while only 20 percent have occurred on the North Runways. The rate of incursions on the North Runways is comparable to or lower than other busy commercial United States airports. Consequently, relocating Runway 24R farther to the north would not have a significant impact on runway incursions. (6)Runway status lights and surface movement equipment have been shown to enhance the margin of safety at airport runways, and installing such lights and equipment on the North Runways would improve safety more effectively and at less cost than relocating Runway 24R farther to the north. (7)Relocating Runway 24R farther to the north would increase noise, air pollution, and other environmental impacts on residents, schools, churches, and businesses in— (A)the communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey, which lie adjacent to the north side of LAX; and (B)the City of Inglewood and the communities of Vermont Knolls and South Los Angeles, which lie to the east of LAX underneath the arrival flight path. (8)Relocating Runway 24R farther to the north would bring the risk of an aircraft accident closer to homes, schools, churches, and businesses in Westchester and Playa del Rey and, consequently, reduce safety for people who live and work in these communities. (9)Relocating Runway 24R farther to the north would necessitate resetting the runway protection zone for LAX, which could require the removal of businesses and homes in Westchester. (10)State and local officials who represent the communities surrounding LAX have expressed opposition to relocating Runway 24R farther to the north. (11)Community members of Westchester and Playa del Rey have expressed opposition to relocating Runway 24R farther to the north. (12)Relocating Runway 24R farther to the north is not in the best interests of the communities surrounding LAX.