[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 139 (Thursday, July 20, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37329-37331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17903]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 73
[Airspace Docket No. 93-AWP-8]
Modification of Restricted Areas R-2303A and R-2303B, and
Establishment of R-2303C, Fort Huachuca, AZ
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends Restricted Areas R-2303A and R-2303B, and
establishes R-2303C at Fort Huachuca, AZ. R-2303A is amended to exclude
the Fort Huachuca/Libby AAF/Sierra Vista Municipal Airport from the
restricted area and provide airspace for visual flight rules (VFR)
access to the airport when R-2303A is in use. This action lowers the
floor and ceiling and revises the lateral dimensions of R-2303B in
order to accommodate unmanned aerial vehicle training profiles. R-2303B
is further subdivided by redesignating the southeast corner of the
existing area as a separate restricted area, R-2303C. Additionally this
action reduces the published hours of operation for R-2303A and R-
2303B. The purpose of these changes is to accommodate increased
training requirements and to return unneeded special use airspace to
the National Airspace System (NAS).
EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, September 14, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Robinson, Military Operations
Program Office (ATM-420), Office of Air Traffic System Management,
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 493-4050.
[[Page 37330]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
History
On July 21, 1994, the FAA proposed to amend part 73 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 73) to modify R-2303A and R-2303B and
establish R-2303C, Fort Huachuca, AZ (59 FR 37188). Interested parties
were invited to participate in this rulemaking proceeding by submitting
written comments on the proposal to the FAA. The comments are discussed
below:
On June 15, 1995, the FAA published a supplemental notice of
proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) (60 FR 31425) as a result of comments
received expressing concern about the dimensions and navigability of
the airport exclusionary zone and VFR corridor. The FAA received no
comments in response to the SNPRM.
Supportive comments were received from the Southern Arizona Hang
Gliding Association, with a recommendation to chart three areas of
intensive hang gliding activities located in the vicinity of R-2303B.
The FAA agrees with this recommendation and will initiate action to
chart the hang gliding areas on the Phoenix Sectional Aeronautical
Chart.
Concerns were raised relating to the dimensions and navigability of
the VFR corridor and airport exclusionary zone. As a result of comments
received in response to the NPRM, the FAA is increasing the ceiling of
the airport exclusion and VFR access corridor at the Libby AAF/Sierra
Vista Municipal Airport. R-2303A will be amended to exclude from the
restricted area the airspace from the surface to 7,000 feet MSL, within
a 3-nautical-mile radius of the Fort Huachuca/Libby AAF/Sierra Vista
Municipal Airport. The airspace from the surface to 7,000 feet MSL
within 1-nautical-mile either side of U.S. Highway 90 will also be
excluded. This will provide VFR access to the airport when R-2303A is
in use. Except for editorial changes, this amendment is the same as
that proposed in the notices. Section 73.23 of part 73 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations was republished in FAA Order 7400.8B dated March
9, 1994.
The Rule
This amendment to Part 73 of the Federal Aviation Regulations
amends R-2303A to exclude from the restricted area the airspace from
the surface to 7,000 feet MSL, within a 3-nautical-mile radius of the
Fort Huachuca/Libby AAF/Sierra Vista Municipal Airport. The airspace
from the surface to 7,000 feet MSL within 1-nautical-mile either side
of U.S. Highway 90 is also excluded. This will provide VFR access to
the airport when R-2303A is in use. R-2303B is amended by relocating
the northern boundary 3 miles south of the existing position. This will
better accommodate hang gliding activity that takes place just outside
of the northwest corner of R-2303B. R-2303B is further amended by
subdividing the southeastern section as a separate restricted area, R-
2303C. The purpose of this subdivision is to accommodate hang gliding
activities occurring just outside of the southeast corner of R-2303A.
To achieve this, R-2303C retains a 15,000 feet MSL floor and the time
of designation for that section is reduced from the current baseline of
9 hours per day, 6 days per week, to ``intermittent by NOTAM at least
24 hours in advance.'' In addition, this action lowers the floor of R-
2303B from 15,000 feet MSL to 8,000 feet MSL excluding the airspace
within R-2303A when activated, in order to accommodate unmanned aerial
vehicle training profiles. The ceiling of R-2303B is lowered from
Flight Level 450 (FL) to FL 300. The U.S. Army has determined that
there is no longer a requirement for restricted airspace above FL 300,
therefore, that airspace is being returned to the NAS system. Lastly,
the times of designation for R-2303A and R-2303B are reduced from
``Monday-Saturday, 0700-1600 local time; other times by NOTAM at least
24 hours in advance,'' to ``Monday-Friday, 0700-1600 local time; other
times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.''
The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current.
It, therefore--(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.
Environmental Review
The Department of the Army has completed an Environmental
Assessment (EA) of this action resulting in a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI). The FAA has reviewed the EA, and adopts the EA/FONSI,
as supplemented by the U. S. Army. The FAA concludes that this action
will have no significant impact on the environment.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73
Airspace, Navigation (air).
Adoption of the Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration amends 14 CFR part 73 as follows:
PART 73--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 73 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR
9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); 14 CFR
11.69.
Sec. 73.23 [Amended]
2. Section 73.23 is amended as follows:
R-2303A Fort Huachuca, AZ [Revised]
Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.40'40''N., long.
110 deg.11'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.34'00''N., long.
110 deg.08'32''W.; to lat. 31 deg.34'00''N., long.
110 deg.22'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.33'00''N., long.
110 deg.23'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.29'00''N., long.
110 deg.23'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.29'00''N., long.
110 deg.41'32''W.; to lat. 31 deg.34'00''N., long.
110 deg.43'32''W.; to lat. 31 deg.38'30''N., long.
110 deg.42'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.38'30''N., long.
110 deg.39'32''W.; to lat. 31 deg.41'00''N., long.
110 deg.33'32''W.; to lat. 31 deg.41'00''N., long.
110 deg.12'02''W.; to the point of beginning.
Altitudes. Surface to 15,000 feet MSL, excluding the airspace from
the surface to 7,000 feet MSL within a 3-nautical-mile radius of the
Fort Huachuca/Libby AAF/Sierra Vista Municipal Airport, AZ, and
excluding the airspace from the surface to 7,000 feet MSL within 1-
nautical-mile either side of U.S. Highway 90.
Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-1600 local time; other
times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.
Controlling agency. FAA, Albuquerque ARTCC.
Using agency. U.S. Army Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, AZ.
R-2303B Fort Huachuca, AZ [Revised]
Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.45'00''N., long.
110 deg.20'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.41'00''N., long.
110 deg.12'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.40'40''N., long.
110 deg.11'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.34'00''N., long.
110 deg.08'32''W.; to lat. 31 deg.34'00''N., long.
110 deg.22'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.33'00''N., long.
110 deg.23'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.29'00''N., long.
110 deg.23'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.29'00''N., long.
110 deg.25'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.24'00''N., long.
110 deg.25'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.24'00''N., long.
110 deg.45'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.45'00''N., long.
110 deg.45'52''W.; to the point of beginning.
Altitudes. 8,000 feet MSL to FL 300, excluding that airspace within
R-2303A when activated.
[[Page 37331]]
Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-1600 local time; other
times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.
Controlling agency. FAA, Albuquerque ARTCC.
Using agency. U.S. Army Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, AZ.
R-2303C Fort Huachuca, AZ [New]
Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.35'00''N., long.
110 deg.00'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.24'00''N., long.
110 deg.00'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.24'00''N., long.
110 deg.25'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.29'00''N., long.
110 deg.25'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.29'00''N., long.
110 deg.23'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.33'00''N., long.
110 deg.23'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.34'00''N., long.
110 deg.22'02''W.; to lat. 31 deg.34'00''N., long.
110 deg.08'32''W.; to lat. 31 deg.40'40''N., long.
110 deg.11'02''W.; to the point of beginning.
Altitudes. 15,000 feet MSL to FL 300.
Time of designation. Intermittent by NOTAM at least 24 hours in
advance.
Controlling agency. FAA, Albuquerque ARTCC.
Using agency. U.S. Army Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, AZ.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 12, 1995.
Nancy B. Kalinowski,
Acting Manager, Airspace-Rules and Aeronautical Information Division.
[FR Doc. 95-17903 Filed 7-19-95; 8:45 am]
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