[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3206-3207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1355]


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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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M