[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65605-65607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30917]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 95-ANE-61]


Proposed Amendment to Class E airspace; Worcester, MA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to establish Class E airspace at 
Worcester, MA (ORH). With the commissioning of the Automated Surface 
Observation System (ASOS) at the Worcester Municipal Airport, weather 
reporting is now continuously available at that 

[[Page 65606]]
airport. This action is necessary to establish controlled airspace 
extending upward from the surface for aircraft operating under 
instrument flight rules (IFR) to and from the Worcester Municipal 
Airport during the times when the air traffic control tower is closed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 19, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
System Management Branch, ANE-530, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Docket No. 95-ANE-60, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803-5299; telephone (617) 238-7530; fax (617) 238-7596.
    The official docket file may be examined in the Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, New England Region, ANE-7, Room 401, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (617) 238-
7040; fax (617) 238-7055.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Air Traffic Division, Room 408, by contacting the Manager, 
System Management Branch at the first address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond Duda, System Management 
Branch, ANE-533, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-
5299; telephone (617) 238-7533; fax (617) 238-7596.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. 
Communications should identify the airspace docket number and be 
submitted in triplicate to the address listed first under ADDRESSES 
above. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their 
comments on this notice must submit with those comments a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 95-ANE-61.'' The postcard will be date/time 
stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications received on 
or before the closing date for comments will be considered before 
taking action on the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this 
notice may be changed in light of comments received. All comments 
submitted will be available for examination in the Rules Docket both 
before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing 
each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this 
rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, 
Office of Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry Center, APA-230,800 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-
3484. Communications must identify the notice number of this NPRM. 
Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's 
should also request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which 
describes the application procedures.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to establish a Class E surface 
area at the Worcester Municipal Airport, Worcester, MA (ORH). Since the 
air traffic control tower (ATCT) at Worcester does not operate 
continuously, aircraft operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) to 
and from Worcester would not have had the benefit of weather reports 
from the airport during the times when the tower is closed. The lack of 
continuous weather reporting also required that the controlled airspace 
for Worcester could not extend to the surface. Recently, however, an 
Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) has been commissioned at 
Worcester, making weather reporting now available continuously. As 
result, this action is necessary to establish controlled airspace 
extending from the surface for those aircraft operating to and from 
Worcester under IFR during the times when the ATCT is closed. Class E 
airspace designations for airspace areas extending upward from the 
surface of the earth in the vicinity of airports are published in 
paragraph 6002 of FAA Order 7400.9C, dated August 17, 1995, and 
effective September 16, 1995, which is incorporated by reference in 14 
CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document 
would be published subsequently in this Order.
    The FAA has determined that these proposed regulations only involve 
an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. 
Therefore these proposed regulations--(1) are not ``significant 
regulatory actions'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) are not 
``significant rules'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 
FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) do not warrant preparation of a 
Regulatory Evaluation as these routine matters will only affect air 
traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that these 
proposed rules will not have 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).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal 
Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) as follows:

PART 71--[Amended]

    1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

    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 Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9C, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 17, 1994, and effective September 16, 
1995, is amended as follows:

Subpart E--Class E Airspace

* * * * *

Paragraph 6002  Class E surface areas extending upward from the 
surface of the earth.

* * * * *

ANE MA E2 Worcester, MA [New]

Worcester Municipal Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42 deg.16'02'' N, long. 71 deg.52'32'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-
mile radius of Worcester Municipal Airport. This Class E airspace 
area is effective during the specific dates and times established in 
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective dates and times will 
thereafter by continuously published in the Airport/Facility 
Directory.
* * * * * 

[[Page 65607]]

    Issued in Burlington, MA, on December 13, 1995.
John J. Boyce, Jr.,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, New England Region.
[FR Doc. 95-30917 Filed 12-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M