[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23345-23346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11204]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 94-AWP-15]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Restricted Area 2311 (R-2311), Yuma Proving 
Ground, AZ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes a new Restricted Area R-2311 (R-2311) 
at Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), Yuma, AZ. The restricted area will 
contain the U.S. Army's weapons and ammunition acceptance testing, a 
mission that was relocated from Jefferson Proving Ground, IN, as a 
result of the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, July 17, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, 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

    On October 24, 1988, Congress passed Public Law 100-526, the 
Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act. 
One of the provisions of the Act was to relocate the activities 
occurring at Jefferson Proving Ground, IN, to YPG, AZ. The closure 
activity at Jefferson was to occur in a phased manner from 1991 to 
1995. During the airspace review, the Army concluded that the existing 
ranges at YPG were unable to fully accommodate the activity required 
for munitions production acceptance testing. Due to the need for 
uninterrupted use of airspace to support the test mission, the U.S. 
Army requested that the FAA take action to convert an existing 
controlled firing area (CFA), Kofa South, into a restricted area.
    On January 6, 1995, the FAA proposed to amend Title 14 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations part 73 (14 CFR part 73) to establish R-2311, 
Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, AZ (60 FR 2048). Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking proceeding by submitting 
written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments objecting to 
the proposal were received. Except for editorial changes, this 
amendment is the same as that proposed in the notice. The coordinates 
for this airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. 
Restricted areas are republished in Section 73.23 of FAA Order 7400.8D 
dated July 11, 1996.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 73 establishes R-2311, Yuma Proving 
Ground, Yuma, AZ. R-2311 is located within the lateral boundaries of 
the Kofa South CFA and extends from the surface to 3,500 feet MSL. The 
times of designation are sunrise to sunset, Monday through Saturday, 
other times by NOTAM. The closure of Jefferson Proving Ground, IN, and 
the subsequent move of the munitions testing function to YPG, AZ, has 
created a need for uninterrupted use of airspace in support of the U.S. 
Army Test and Evaluation Command mission. These activities cannot be 
fully accommodated on existing ranges located at YPG. The restrictions 
and limitations on CFA activity are not amenable to the type of 
activity required for munitions production acceptance testing. R-2311 
is a joint use area, and, when the area is not being used by YPG, it 
will be released to the controlling agency.
    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

    In September 1991, the U.S. Army, as the lead agency for the 
mandatory move of the Jefferson Proving Ground's activities to YPG, 
published an environmental impact statement (EIS) in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Additionally, upon FAA's 
request, the U.S. Army conducted an environmental assessment (EA) 
targeted at the specific activities the U.S. Army proposes to conduct 
within the new restricted area. This EA was published in June 1996. The 
FAA has reviewed and adopts the EIS and the EA submitted by the U.S. 
Army. Use of the subject area, as proposed, is consistent with existing 
national environmental policies and objectives as set forth in Section 
101(a) of the NEPA and would not significantly affect the quality of 
the human environment or otherwise include any condition requiring 
consultation pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of NEPA. This restricted 
area does not have the potential to significantly increase noise over 
surrounding wilderness areas or trigger the requirements of Section 
4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

    Airspace, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the FAA 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. 73.23  [Amended]

    2. Section 73.23 is amended as follows:

R-2311 Yuma, AZ [New]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 32 deg.46'48''N., long. 
114 deg.19'16''W.; to lat. 32 deg.51'20''N., long. 
114 deg.19'04''W.; to lat. 32 deg.51'53''N., long. 
114 deg.03'40''W.; to lat. 32 deg.46'48''N., long. 
114 deg.03'51''W.; to the point of beginning.
    Altitudes. Surface to 3,500 feet MSL.

[[Page 23346]]

    Time of designation. Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Saturday; 
other times by NOTAM.
    Controlling Agency. Yuma Approach Control (MCAS), Yuma, AZ.
    Using Agency. Commanding Officer, Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, AZ.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 21, 1997
Jeff Griffith,
Program Director for Air Traffic, Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 97-11204 Filed 4-29-97; 8:45 am]
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