[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3629-3630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1776]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 96-AAL-29]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Atqasuk, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace at Atqasuk, AK. The 
development of Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument approaches to 
runway (RWY) 6 and RWY 24 have made this action necessary. This action 
will change the airport status from Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). The area would be depicted on 
aeronautical charts for pilot reference. The intended effect of this 
proposal is to provide adequate controlled airspace for IFR operations 
at Atqasuk, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
System Management Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 96-AAL-29, 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-29.'' 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

[[Page 3630]]

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 establish Class E airspace for 
GPS instrument approach procedures to RWY 6 and RWY 24 at Atqasuk, AK. 
The status of Atqasuk Airport will change from VFR to IFR. 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 7400.9D, dated 
September 4, 1996, and effective September 16, 1996, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 (61 FR 48403; September 13, 
1996). 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 7400.9D, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 4, 1996, and effective September 16, 
1996, is amended as follows:
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Atqasuk, AK [New]

Atqasuk Airport, AK
    (Lat. 70 deg.28'02'' N, long. 157 deg.26'08'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of the Atqasuk Airport.
* * * * *
    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on January 15, 1997.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 97-1776 Filed 1-23-97; 8:45 am]
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