[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P