The following is the text of a letter from Herman Bliss, on the letterhead of the FAA Western-Pacific Region Airports Division, to Supervisor Tom Wilson.

(Date Stamped OCT 30 2000)

Dear Supervisor Wilson:

This letter is in response to your October 11, 2000, letter requesting follow-up information on topics discussed at the October 4, 2000, meeting, regarding the aviation reuse of the former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro.

As we indicated in our meeting, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently analyzing the proposed commercial aviation use of MCAS El Toro, in terms of the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace. Safety is a major consideration in our analysis of operations proposed by Orange County in the Airport System Master Plan (ASMP) and described in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) 573,

The FAA's role in the proposed civilian reuse of the former base is recommending the approval of a public benefit transfer from the Department of Navy to Orange County. It also includes approval of an Airport Layout Plan (ALP), which depicts the airfield development actions. Our review of the ALP includes an air traffic analysis of the surrounding airspace based on the proposed operations together with development of flight procedures. The public benefit transfer recommendation would be made upon completion of the federal environmental actions pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

The FAA has conducted a preliminary review of the ALP and the airspace. The proposed ALP indicates that applicable FAA airport design standards would be met. During the course of our preliminary airspace analysis, we requested that the MITRE Corporation prepare additional detailed analysis. This study was intended to provide the FAA with an initial estimate of potential airspace utilization based on the proposed flight procedures and air traffic. The draft MITRE study analyzed the county's proposal. We have concluded that flights from the existing facility could be safely accommodated. The FAA is currently developing preliminary instrument departure and arrival procedures that would ensure aircraft are operated safely, with adequate obstruction clearance within existing airspace.

Your letter requested that we provide you a copy of the MITRE report and the airspace analysis. As we stated at our meeting, it would not be appropriate for the FAA to release this report as it is in a draft format. The airspace analysis will not be completed until standard instrument departure and arrival procedures are developed. The draft MITRE report is only a portion of the total analysis. It does not represent the final and complete results of the FAA's evaluation. Premature publication of this report would likely lead to misinterpretation. Our completed review of the proposed civil reuse of MCAS El Toro, which includes the ALP and an analysis of the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace, is expected to be finished by March 2001.

Regarding Runway 34 departures, we are reviewing flight procedures for departures to the north. A left turn to be used on Runway 34 for missed approaches is part of the analysis. The FAA is not evaluating westerly operations using Runway 25. The Local Redevelopment Authority, Orange County indicated in the ASMP, Draft EIR 573, and subsequent correspondence that this runway is not planned to be available for westerly departures.

In regard to the noise data recently released by the county to the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, the specific document has not been provided to the FAA. It is our understanding that this issue had been covered by the county in preparing EIR 573. A noise analysis will be a part of the federal environmental action, which will include noise impacts.

We appreciate you and Supervisor Smith bringing your staff with you for our joint briefing. The comments received by FAA on Measure F were very informative.

Sincerely,

Herman C. Bliss
Manager, Airports Division

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