[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64322-64323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31927]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-ANM-04]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Poplar, MT, and 
Revision of Class E Airspace, Wolf Point, MT

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This proposal would establish Class E Airspace at Poplar, MT 
and revise Wolf Point, MT Class E 1,200-foot airspace. The development 
of a new Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at the Poplar 
Airport, Poplar, MT, utilizing the Global Positioning System (GPS) has 
made this proposition necessary. Controlled airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above ground level (AGL) is needed to accommodate this 
SIAP and for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations to the airport. 
The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Airspace Branch, ANM-520, Federal Aviation Administration, Docket No. 
97-ANM-04, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
    The official docket may be examined in the office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel for the Northwest Mountain Region at the same address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the office of the Manager, Air Traffic Division, Airspace 
Branch, at the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dennis Ripley, ANM-520.6, Federal Aviation Administration, Docket No. 
97-ANM-04, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington 98055-4056; 
telephone number: (425) 227-2527.

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. 97-
ANM-04.'' 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 the light of comments received. All comments submitted will be 
available for examination at the address listed above 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 NPRM by submitting a request 
to the Federal Aviation Administration, Airspace Branch, ANM-520, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Communications must 
identify the notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being 
placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should also request a copy 
of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR part 71) to establish Class E airspace at 
Poplar, MT and revise Class E airspace at Wolf Point, MT, in order to 
fully encircle the GPS Runway 9 SIAP to the Poplar Airport, Poplar, MT. 
This proposal would make a 700-foot Class E area within a 9.1 mile 
radius around the Poplar Airport while also amending adjacent 1200-foot 
Class E airspace at Wolf Point that would fully encompass the holding 
procedures associated with the Poplar Airport SIAP. The FAA establishes 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet AGL where necessary to 
contain aircraft transitioning between the terminal and en route 
environments. The intended effect of this proposal is designed to 
provide safe, efficient use of the navigable airspace while protecting 
for safe flight operations under IFR at the Poplar Airport and between 
the terminal and en route transition stages.
    The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot 
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth, are published in Paragraph 
6005 of FAA Order 7400.9E dated September 10, 1997, and effective 
September 16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. 
The Class E airspace designation listed in this document would be 
published subsequently in the Order.
    The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves 
an established body of technical

[[Page 64323]]

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--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

    1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 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.


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 
1997, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ANM MT E5 Poplar, MT [New]

Poplar Airport, MT
    (Lat. 48 deg.07'00''N, long. 105 deg.11'15''W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 9.1-mile radius of the Poplar, MT, airport.
* * * * *

ANM MT E5 Wolf Point, MT [Revised]

Wolf Point, L M Clayton Airport, MT
    (Lat. 48 deg.05'67''N, long. 105 deg.34'50''W)
Wolf Point NDB
    (Lat. 48 deg.06'27''N, long. 105 deg.36'12''W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.4-mile radius of the Wolf Point NDB; that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface bounded by a line 
beginning at lat. 47 deg.48'00''N, long. 104 deg.58'00''W; to lat. 
47 deg.48'00''N, long. 106 deg.00'02''W; to lat. 48 deg.20'00''N, 
long. 106 deg.00'02''W; to lat. 48 deg.20'00''N, long. 
104 deg.58'00''W; thence to the point of beginning.
* * * * *
    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on November 13, 1997.
Glenn A. Adams III,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 97-31927 Filed 12-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M