[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66838-66840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33282]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AGL-61]


Proposed Modification of Class D Airspace; Minot AFB, ND; and 
Class E Airspace; Minot, ND

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to modify Class D airspace at Minot Air 
Force Base (AFB), ND, and Class E airspace at Minot, ND. A review of 
the Instrument Landing System (ILS) 1 or Tactical Air Navigation 
(TACAN) Runway 29 Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP), the 
Instrument Landing System/Distance Measuring Equipment (ILS/DME) 2 
Runway 29 SIAP, the ILS/DME Runway 11 SIAP, and the TACAN Runway 11 
SIAP for Minot AFB necessitates these modifications. Controlled 
airspace extending upward from the surface, controlled airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above ground level (AGL), and controlled 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet AGL is needed to contain 
aircraft executing these approaches. This proposal would increase the 
radius and remove the extensions to the Class D airspace for Minot AFB, 
ND, and would increase the radius and add a northwest extension to that 
portion of the Minot, ND, Class E airspace associated with Minot AFB, 
ND.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 26, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
AGL-7, Rules Docket No. 97-AGL-61, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois 60018.
    Docket: The official docket may be examined in the Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East 
Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois. An informal docket may also be 
examined during normal business hours at the Air Traffic Division, 
Operations Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon 
Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle M. Behm, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Branch, AGL-520, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois 60018, telephone (847) 294-7568.

[[Page 66839]]

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-
AGL-61.'' 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 Rules Docket, FAA, Great Lakes Region, Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois, 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 Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry Center, APA-230, 
800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling 
(202) 267-3484. 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 14 CFR part 71 to modify 
Class D airspace at Minot AFB, ND, and Class E airspace at Minot, ND. A 
recent joint FAA/Air Force review of the controlled airspace for Minot 
AFB revealed a need to reinstate controlled airspace inadvertently 
dropped during the 1993 United States airspace reclassification. This 
action was completed by Final Rule on November 5, 1997 (97-AGL-59, 62 
FR 59783). Further review of the current instrument approach procedures 
for Minot AFB, including the ILS 1 or TACAN Runway 29 SIAP, the ILS/DME 
2 Runway 29 SIAP, the ILS/DME Runway 11 SIAP, and the TACAN Runway 11 
SIAP, has indicated a need to modify the existing controlled airspace 
by increasing the radius and removing the extensions to the Class D 
airspace for Minot AFB, ND, and increasing the radius and adding a 
northwest extension to that portion of the Minot, ND, Class E airspace 
associated with Minot AFB, ND. Controlled airspace extending upward 
from the surface, controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
AGL, and controlled airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet AGL is 
needed to contain aircraft executing these approaches. The areas would 
be depicted on appropriate aeronautical charts. Class D airspace 
designations are published in paragraph 5000, and Class E airspace 
designations for 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 D 
and Class E airspace designations 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 regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation--(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 proposed rule 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

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 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 5000  Class D Airspace

* * * * *

AGL ND D  Minot AFB, ND [Revised]

Minot AFB, ND
    (Lat. 48 deg.25'56''N, long. 101 deg.21'29''W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
4,200 feet MSL and within a 5.3-mile radius of Minot AFB. This Class 
D airspace is effective during the specific dates and times 
established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and 
time will thereafter be continuously published in the Airport/
Facility Directory.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6005  Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth

* * * * *

AGL ND E5  Minot, ND [Revised]

Minot, AFB, ND
    (Lat. 48 deg.25'56''N, long. 101 deg.21'29''W)
Deering TACAN
    (Lat. 48 deg.24'55''N, long. 101 deg.21'58''W)
Minot International Airport, ND
    (Lat. 48 deg.15'34''N, long. 101 deg.16'52''W)
Minot VORTAC
    (Lat. 48 deg.15'37''N, long. 101 deg.17'14''W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.1-mile radius of Minot AFB and within 1.5 miles each side 
of the Deering TACAN 292 deg. radial extending from the 7.1-mile 
radius to 9.3 miles northwest of the airport and that airspace 
within a 7.0-mile radius of Minot International Airport and within 
4.8 miles each side of the Minot VORTAC 138 deg. radial extending 
from the 7.0-mile radius to 12.1 miles southeast of the VORTAC and 
that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
within a 47-mile radius of Minot AFB, excluding the area north of 
latitude 49 deg.00'00''N.
* * * * *

[[Page 66840]]

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on November 26, 1997.
Maureen Woods,
Manager, Air Traffic Division.
[FR Doc. 97-33282 Filed 12-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M