[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 2, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34394-34395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16729]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 96-AAL-8]


Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith 
Airport, Cordova, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action revises the Class E airspace at Merle K. (Mudhole) 
Smith Airport, Cordova, AK. The development of the Required Navigation 
Performance (RNP) instrument approach to Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith 
Airport, Cordova, AK has made this action necessary. The area would be 
depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference. The intended 
effect of this proposal is to provide adequate controlled airspace for 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Cordova, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 23, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
System Management Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 96-AAL-8, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 
99513-7587.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel for the Alaskan Region at the same address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Office of the Manager, System Management Branch, Air 
Traffic Division, at the address shown above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert van Haastert, System Management 
Branch, AAL-538, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, 
Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-5863.

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, aeronautical, 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 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 Airspace Docket No. 96-
AAL-8.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter. All communications received on or before the specified 
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 System Management Branch, Air Traffic Division, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, 
Anchorage, AK, 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 NPRM's

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the System Management Branch, AAL-
530, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, 
Anchorage, AK 99513-7587. 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 procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to modify Class E airspace at 
Cordova, AK. This action is necessary to accommodate a new RNP 
instrument approach to Runway 9 at Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport, 
Cordova, AK. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on 
North American Datum 83. The Class E airspace areas designated as 700/
1200 foot transition areas are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 
7400.9C, dated August 17, 1995, and effective September 16, 1995, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 (58 FR 36298; July 6, 
1993). The Class E airspace designation listed in this document would 
be published subsequently in the 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. 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, 
when promulgated, 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).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 14 CFR Part 71 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. 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, 1995, and effective September 16, 
1995, is amended as follows:
* * * * *

Paragraph 6005  Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or 
more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

[[Page 34395]]

AAL AK E5 Cordova, AK [Revised]

Cordova, Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport, AK
    (lat. 60 deg.29'31'' N, long. 145 deg.28'39'' W)
Glacier River NDB
    (lat. 60 deg.29'56'' N, long. 145 deg.28'28'' W)
Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Localizer
    (lat. 60 deg.29'51'' N, long. 145 deg.29'59'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport and 
within 4 miles each side of the 222 deg. bearing of the Glacier 
River NDB extending from the 6.6-mile radius to 20 miles southwest 
of the airport and within 4 miles each side of the 142 deg. bearing 
from the NDB extending from the 6.6-mile radius to 15.6 miles 
southeast of the airport; and that airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface within 6 miles each side of the Merle 
K. (Mudhole) Smith Localizer east course extending from the 
localizer to 40.6 miles east of the airport and within 4 miles each 
side of the 268 deg. bearing from the NDB extending from the Glacier 
River NDB to 33.6 miles west of the airport and that airspace within 
4 miles west and 8 miles east of the 222 deg. bearing from the NDB 
extending from 10.3 miles southwest of the NDB to 26.3 miles 
southwest of the NDB and within 10 miles south and 5 miles north of 
the 299 deg. bearing from the Glacier River NDB extending from the 
6.6-mile radius to 25 miles northwest of the airport; excluding the 
airspace more than 12 miles beyond the shoreline.
* * * * *
    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on June 21, 1996.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 96-16729 Filed 7-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P