[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58332-58333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27504]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-ASW-26]


Revision of Class E Airspace; El Paso, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This amendment revises the Class E airspace at El Paso, TX. 
The development of a Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard 
Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP), at El Paso International Airport, 
El Paso, TX, has made this rule necessary. This action is intended to 
provide adequate controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet or 
more above the surface for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations to 
El Paso International Airport, El Paso, TX.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, February 24, 2000.
    Comments must be received on or before December 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule in triplicate to Manager, Airspace 
Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Southwest Region, Docket No. 99-ASW-26, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0520. The 
official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham 
Boulevard, Room 663, Fort Worth, TX, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. An informal docket may also be 
examined during normal business hours at the Airspace Branch, Air 
Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Region, 
Room 414, Forth Worth, TX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donald J. Day, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0520, telephone 
817-262-5593.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 revises the 
Class E airspace at El Paso, TX. The development of a GPS SIAP, at El 
Paso International Airport, El Paso, TX, has made this rule necessary. 
This action is intended to provide adequate controlled airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface for Instrument 
Flight Rules (IFR) operations to El Paso International Airport, El 
Paso, TX.
    Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.9G, dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 
1999, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E 
airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the order.

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. 
A substantial number of previous opportunities provided to the public 
to comment on substantially identical actions have resulted in 
negligible adverse comments or objections. 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

[[Page 58333]]

extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of this action and 
determining whether additional rulemaking action is 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. 99-ASW-26.'' 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 level 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.
    Further, the FAA has determined that this regulation is 
noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments 
and only involves an established body of technical regulations that 
require frequent and routine amendments to keep them operationally 
current. Therefore, I certify that 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) if promulgated, will not have 
a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial 
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. Since this rule involves routine matters that will 
only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it does not 
warrant preparation of a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis because the 
anticipated impact is so minimal.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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; 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 7400.9G, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 
1999, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5  El Paso, TX [Revised]

El Paso, Biggs AAF, TX
    (Lat. 31 deg.50'58'' N., long. 106 deg.22'48'' W.)
El Paso International Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31 deg.48'24'' N., long. 106 deg.22'40'' W.)
El Paso VORTAC, TX
    (Lat. 31 deg.48'57'' N., long. 106 deg.16'55'' W.)
El Paso, West Texas Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31 deg.43'11'' N., long. 106 deg.14'21'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 9.1-mile radius of Biggs AAF and within a 8.4-mile radius 
of El Paso International Airport and within 2 miles each side of the 
050 deg. bearing from the airport extending from the 8.4-mile radius 
to 13 miles northeast of the airport and within 1.6 miles each side 
of the 093 deg. radial of the El Paso VORTAC extending from the 8.4-
mile radius to 7.3 miles east of the VORTAC and within a 6.6-mile 
radius of the West Texas Airport.
* * * * *
    Issued in Fort Worth, TX, on October 12, 1999.
Robert N. Stevens,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 99-27504 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M