[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 170 (Friday, August 30, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45920-45921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22252]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 96-ASO-5]


Proposed Amendment to Time of Designation for Restricted Areas; 
GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to amend the time of designation for 
Restricted Areas 3008A (R-3008A), R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-3008D, Grand 
Bay Weapons Range, GA, by expanding the timeframe during which these 
areas may be activated without prior issuance of a Notice to Airmen 
(NOTAM). The U.S. Air Force proposed this amendment to accommodate an 
increase in the using agency's night flying requirements.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air 
Traffic Division, ASO-500, Docket No. 96-ASO-5, Federal Aviation 
Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, GA 30320.
    The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of 
the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Paul Gallant, 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: 

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire.

[[Page 45921]]

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-ASO-5.'' The postcard will 
be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. Send comments on 
environmental and land-use aspects to: Mr. Robert C. Makowski, 347th 
CES/CEVA, 3485 Georgia Street, Moody Air Force Base (AFB), GA 31699-
1707. 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 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 NPRM's

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, 
Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Attention: Airspace and 
Rules Division, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the 
notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a 
mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, to request a copy 
of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to part 73 of Title 14 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR part 73) to amend the time of 
designation for R-3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-3008D from the current 
``0700-1900 local time, Monday-Friday; other times by NOTAM 6 hours in 
advance,'' to ``0700-2200 local time, Monday-Friday; other times by 
NOTAM 6 hours in advance.'' This proposal would expand, by 3 hours 
daily, the core hours during which these areas could be activated 
without prior issuance of a NOTAM. As proposed, a NOTAM would not be 
required for activation of these restricted areas between 1900 and 2200 
local time. The using agency currently has the option of activating 
these areas at any time providing a NOTAM is issued for any use outside 
the core hours. A NOTAM would still be required for any usage outside 
the proposed amended times. The 347th Wing at Moody AFB, GA, has 
reorganized as a composite wing made up of F-16, A-10, and C-130 
aircraft. As a result, the unit's night flying missions, which utilize 
R-3008, routinely extend past 1900 local time, but are normally 
terminated by 2200 local time. This requires the daily issuance of 
NOTAM's for activation of these areas between 1900 and 2200. Amendment 
of the time of designation, as proposed, would provide better 
notification to the flying public of expected routine times of use of 
these restricted areas, and lesson NOTAM system workload.
    Section 73.30 of part 73 of the Federal Aviation Regulations was 
published in FAA Order 7400.8C dated June 29, 1995.
    The FAA has determined that this proposed 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, when promulgated, 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 proposal will be subjected to an environmental analysis by the 
proponent and the FAA prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

    Airspace, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 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. 73.30  [Amended]

    2. Section 73.30 is amended as follows:

R-3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-3008D, Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA 
[Amended]

    By removing the words ``Time of designation. 0700-1900 local 
time, Monday-Friday; other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance.'' and 
inserting the words:
    ``Time of designation. 0700-2200 local time, Monday-Friday; 
other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance.''

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 22, 1996.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 96-22252 Filed 8-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M