[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 160 (Friday, August 16, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42550-42551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20970]


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


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 96-ASW-16]
RIN 2120-AA66


Changes to Restricted Areas R-6302A, B, C, D, and E, Fort Hood, 
TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This action changes the internal boundary of Restricted Area 
6302 (R-6302), Fort Hood, Texas (TX). Specifically, subareas R-6302C 
and R-6302D are realigned to better accommodate training requirements 
while simultaneously providing airspace for instrument approaches to 
Runway 15, Gray Army Air Field (AAF), TX. Additionally, the using 
agency for all subareas of R-6302 will be standardized to read: ``U.S. 
Army, Commander, III Corps, Fort Hood, TX.''

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, October 10, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Brown, Airspace and Rules 
Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In the early 1960's, R-6302 was established as a gunnery range for 
the U.S. Army. Since its establishment, many refinements have been made 
to the restricted area to reflect changing requirements as well as 
administrative changes. The latest refinement occurred on July 20, 
1995, when the FAA published a final rule (60 FR 37331), redefining the 
vertical limits of R-6302B and the horizontal limits of R-6302E. These 
changes, effective September 14, 1995, were instituted as part of the 
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Plan.
    As a result of a recent review of R-6302 airspace, the U.S. Army 
requested that the FAA take action to change the boundary separating 
two subareas in R-6302 to enhance traffic management and increase the 
efficiency of the airspace contained in R-6302. Currently, 
participating aircraft operating within R-6302D also use R-6302C; 
however, only the northwest corner of R-6302C is normally used for this 
training. When R-6302C is active, aircraft cannot conduct instrument 
approaches to Runway 15 at Gray AAF because the airspace contained in 
R-6302C is required for the approach. This action incorporates the 
northwestern corner of R-6302C into R-6302D, allowing both military 
training in R-6302D and sufficient airspace for instrument approaches 
to Gray AAF to occur simultaneously. Additionally, the U.S. Army 
requested that the using agency for R-6302 be changed to reflect the 
current chain-of-command at Fort Hood, TX.

The Rule

    This rule amends Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 
73 (14 CFR part 73) by redefining the boundary separating R-6302C and 
R-6302D to enable more efficient use of airspace. Additionally, the 
using agency for all subareas of R-6302 will read: ``U.S. Army, 
Commander, III Corps, Fort Hood, TX.''
    Since this action simply redefines the subdivision of an existing 
restricted area and amends the published using agency, I find that 
notice and public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) are unnecessary 
because this action is a minor technical amendment in which the public 
would not be particularly interested. This amendment will not change 
the external boundary of, or activities within, R-6302. The coordinates 
for this airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. Section 
73.63 of part 73 of the Federal Aviation Regulations was republished in 
FAA Order 7400.8C dated June 29, 1995.
    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

    This action redefines the internal boundary separating R-6302C and 
R-6302D to enable more efficient use of airspace, and amends the 
published using agency. There are no changes to air traffic control 
procedures or routes as a result of this action. Additionally, this 
action does not change the external boundary of, or the activities 
conducted within, the restricted airspace.

[[Page 42551]]

Therefore, this action is not subject to environmental assessments and 
procedures under FAA Order 1050.1D, ``Policies and Procedures for 
Considering Environmental Impacts,'' and the National Environmental 
Policy Act.

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. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389; 14 CFR 11.69.


Sec. 73.63  [Amended]

    2. Section 73.63 is amended as follows:

R-6302A Fort Hood, TX [Amended]

    By removing the current using agency and substituting the 
following: Using agency. U.S. Army, Commander, III Corps, Fort Hood, 
TX.

R-6302B Fort Hood, TX [Amended]

    By removing the current using agency and substituting the 
following: Using agency. U.S. Army, Commander, III Corps, Fort Hood, 
TX.

R-6302C Fort Hood, TX [Amended]

    By removing the current boundaries and using agency and 
substituting the following:
    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.09'01''N., long. 
97 deg.45'01''W.; to lat. 31 deg.09'01''N., long. 97 deg.55'01''W.; to 
lat. 31 deg.16'01''N., long. 97 deg.54'01''W.; to lat. 
31 deg.14'15''N., long. 97 deg.50'33''W.; to lat. 31 deg.10'01''N., 
long. 97 deg.48'01''W.; to the point of beginning.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commander, III Corps, Fort Hood, TX.

R-6302D, Fort Hood, TX [Amended]

    By removing the current boundaries and using agency and 
substituting the following:
    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.14'15''N., long. 
97 deg.50'33''W.; to lat. 31 deg.16'01''N., long. 97 deg.54'01''W.; to 
lat. 31 deg.19'01''N., long. 97 deg.51'01''W.; to lat. 
31 deg.24'01''N., long. 97 deg.48'01''W.; to lat. 31 deg.23'01''N., 
long. 97 deg.43'01''W.; to lat. 31 deg.22'08''N., long. 
97 deg.41'56''W.; to lat. 31 deg.22'09''N., long. 97 deg.43'27''W.; to 
lat. 31 deg.20'00''N., long. 97 deg.45'23''W.; to lat. 
31 deg.18'23''N., long. 97 deg.45'43''W.; to lat. 31 deg.18'25''N., 
long. 97 deg.48'48''W.; to the point of beginning.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commander, III Corps, Fort Hood, TX.

R-6302E, Fort Hood, TX [Amended]

    By removing the current using agency and substituting the 
following:
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commander, III Corps, Fort Hood, TX.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 8, 1996.
Jeff Griffith,
Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 96-20970 Filed 8-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P