[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45394-45395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22749]



[[Page 45394]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AWP-12]


Revocation of Class D and E Airspace; Crows Landing, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action will revoke the Class D and Class E airspace at 
Crows Landing Airport, Crows Landing, CA. In 1993 the U.S. Navy 
transferred operation of Crows Landing Naval Auxiliary Landing Field 
(NALF) to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and 
changed the airport name to NASA Crows Landing. In 1995 the Airport 
Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) was decommissioned, therefore the required 
criteria for Class D airspace is no longer met. The removal of the 
Class D airspace will also cause the removal of the Class E airspace 
extensions to the Class D airspace.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC December 3, 1998. Comment date: Comments for 
inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before September 
25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the direct final rule in triplicate to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Attn: Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-
520, Docket No. 98-AWP-12, Air Traffic Division, P.O. Box 92007, 
Worldway Postal Center, Los Angeles, California 90009.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Room 6007, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the Office of the Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic 
Division at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Debra Trindle, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Specialist, AWP-520.10, 
Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation 
Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261, telephone (310) 725-6613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The intended effect of this action is to 
remove the Class D and Class E airspace areas below 1200 feet above 
ground level (AGL) associated with Crows Landing NALF and to change the 
name to NASA Crows Landing Airport in the legal description of the 
controlled airspace. The controlled airspace extending upward from 1200 
feet AGL will remain unchanged. Class D airspace areas are published in 
Paragraph 5000 and Class E airspace areas are published in Paragraphs 
6002, 6004 and 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9D 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 subsequently removed from this Order, with the 
exception of the Class E airspace designated upward from 1200 feet AGL.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse 
or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule. 
This action removes previously designated controlled airspace 
associated with Crows Landing NALF and changes the name to NASA Crows 
Landing Airport. The intended effect of this action is to remove 
controlled airspace where no longer required. Unless a written adverse 
or negative comment or a written notice of intent to submit an adverse 
or negative comment is received within the comment period, the 
regulation will become effective on the date specified above. After the 
close of the comment period, the FAA will publish a document in the 
Federal Register indicating that no adverse or negative comments were 
received and confirming the date on which the final rule will become 
effective. If the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an 
adverse or negative comment, or written notice of intent to submit such 
a comment, a document withdrawing the direct final rule will be 
published in the Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking 
may be published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not 
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of 
the comments received. Factual information that supports the 
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
action will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 98-AWP-12.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and 
unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons 
discussed in the preamble, this regulation only involves an established 
body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments 
are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this 
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 rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

[[Page 45395]]

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; 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; 14 CFR 11.69.


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.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5  NASA Crows Landing, CA  [Revised]

NASA Crows Landing, CA
    (lat. 37 deg.24'29'' N, long. 121 deg.06'34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
bounded on the north by lat. 37 deg.08'00'' N, on the east by the west 
edge of V-109, on the southwest by the northeast edge of V-107 and on 
the west by long. 121 deg.31'04'' W.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6004  Class E airspace areas designated as an extension 
to a Class D or Class E surface area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4  Crows Landing NALF, CA  [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6002  Class E airspace areas designated as a surface area 
for an airport.

* * * * *

AWP CA E2  Crows Landing NALF, CA  [Removed]

* * * * *
    Issued in Los Angeles, California, on August 18, 1998.
John G. Clancy,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 98-22749 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M