[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 235 (Thursday, December 5, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64494-64495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30997]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 96-ASO-10]


Proposed Alteration and Revocation of Restricted Areas, R-3007A, 
B, C, D, E; Townsend, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to reconfigure Restricted Areas R-3007A, 
B, C, D, and E at Townsend Range, GA. Specifically, this action 
proposes to reduce the lateral size and increase the vertical limits of 
the subareas, and increase the time of designation for each of the 
revised subareas by 6 hours per day. These amendments are necessary to 
accommodate Department of Defense (DOD) training requirements and to 
eliminate those areas of the restricted airspace that are no longer 
required for military activity. Additionally, this action changes the 
name of the using agency for the reconfigured R-3007 subareas.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air 
Traffic Division, ASO-500, Docket No. 96-ASO-10, 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. 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-10.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter. Send comments on environmental and land-use aspects to: ANG/
CEVP, 3500 Fetchet Avenue, Andrews AFB, MD 20331-5157, ATTN: Lt. Col. 
Kent Adams. 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 reconfigure R-3007A, B, 
C, D, and E, in Townsend, GA, to accommodate DOD training requirements, 
and eliminate restricted airspace no longer required for military 
training activity.
    This amendment would eliminate all restricted airspace currently 
designated as R-3007A and approximately one half of the restricted 
airspace currently designated as R-3007B. The remaining restricted 
airspace would be reconfigured into three subareas: R-3007A, B, and C. 
Subarea R-3007D would be redesignated as a new area directly above the 
revised R-3007A, B, and C. R-3007A would be revised to describe the 
circular surface target area currently designated as R-3007E. The 
designation R-3007E would be revoked. The entire subarea currently 
designated as R-3007D would be redescribed as R-3007B. The existing 
subarea R-3007C would be revised to retain its original area, plus 
incorporate the remaining portion of the former R-3007B subarea. The 
redesignated area, R-3007D, would extend from 13,000 feet above mean 
sea level (MSL) to flight level 250 (FL 250) in order to accommodate 
high-altitude, high-angle weapons delivery training. At the present 
time, the existing 13,000-foot MSL ceiling at Townsend Range precludes 
the conduct of this essential training at the range. This action also 
proposes a 6-hour per day increase in the time of designation for the 
revised Townsend Range complex from the current ``Monday-Friday, 0800-
1700 local time. Other times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance'' to 
``Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other times by NOTAM at least 24 
hours in

[[Page 64495]]

advance.'' This proposed change would permit more flexible range 
utilization and accommodate increased night training requirements. It 
is estimated that use of the Townsend Range would average 8 hours 
daily. Although the range is currently authorized for use before 0800 
or after 1700 local time through issuance of a NOTAM at least 24 hours 
in advance, the proposed increase in the normal operating time of the 
range would more accurately inform other National Airspace System users 
of time periods when the range may be in use as well as reduce NOTAM 
system workload. The proposed restricted areas would be returned to the 
controlling agency on a real-time basis when not required for military 
activities. All operations in the range will be subsonic. Additionally, 
the using agency name for the proposed reconfigured airspace subareas 
would be changed from ``Savannah Air National Guard Training Site, 
Garden City, GA'' to ``ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center, 
GA'' to reflect the current organizational name.
    The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. Section 73.30 of part 73 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations was published in FAA Order 7400.8D dated July 11, 1996.
    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 subject to appropriate environmental impact 
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-3007A Townsend, GA [Revised]

    Boundaries. A circular area with a 1.5-mile radius centered at 
lat. 31 deg.33'16''N., long. 81 deg.34'44''W.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to but not including 13,000 feet 
MSL.
    Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other 
times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.
    Using agency. ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center, 
GA.

R-3007B Townsend, GA [Revised]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long. 
81 deg.28'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.37'31''N., long. 81 deg.28'14''W.; 
to lat. 31 deg.32'31''N., long. 81 deg.27'29''W.; to lat. 
31 deg.26'16''N., long. 81 deg.31'29''W.; to lat. 31 deg.25'31''N., 
long. 81 deg.35'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.27'26''N., long. 
81 deg.33'39''W.; to lat. 31 deg.31'16''N., long. 81 deg.31'59''W.; 
thence along a 1 NM radius arc clockwise of a point centered at lat. 
31 deg.32'26''N., long. 81 deg.31'49''W.; to lat. 31 deg.33'16''N., 
long. 81 deg.31'14''W.; to the point of beginning.
    Designated altitudes. 1,200 feet AGL to but not including 13,000 
feet MSL.
    Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other 
times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.
    Using agency. ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center, 
GA.

R-3007C Townsend, GA [Revised]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long. 
81 deg.46'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.42'31''N., long. 81 deg.33'59''W.; 
to lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long. 81 deg.28'59''W.; to lat. 
31 deg.33'16''N., long. 81 deg.31'14''W.; thence along a 1 NM radius 
arc counterclockwise of a point centered at lat. 31 deg.32'26''N., 
long. 81 deg.31'49''W.; to lat. 31 deg.31'16''N., long. 
81 deg.31'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.27'26''N., long. 81 deg.33'39''W.; 
to lat. 31 deg.25'31''N., long. 81 deg.35'59''W.; thence west along 
the Altamaha River to the point of beginning; excluding R-3007A.
    Designated altitudes. 100 feet AGL to but not including 13,000 
feet MSL.
    Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other 
times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.
    Using agency. ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center, 
GA. R-3007D Townsend, GA [Revised]
    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long. 
81 deg.46'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.42'31''N., long. 81 deg.33'59''W.; 
to lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long. 81 deg.28'59''W.; to lat. 
31 deg.37'31''N., long. 81 deg.28'14''W.; to lat. 31 deg.32'31''N., 
long. 81 deg.27'29''W.; to lat. 31 deg.26'16''N., long. 
81 deg.31'29''W.; to lat. 31 deg.25'31''N., long. 81 deg.35'59''W.; 
thence northwest along the Altamaha River to the point of beginning.
    Designated altitudes. 13,000 feet MSL to FL 250. Time of 
designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other times by 
NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.
    Using agency. ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center, 
GA.

R-3007E Townsend, GA [Removed]

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 22, 1996.
Harold W. Becker,
Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 96-30997 Filed 12-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P