[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4192-4193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1816]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-ASO-24 and 00-ASO-1]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Whitesburg, KY

AGENCY:  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:  Proposed rule; withdrawal and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

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SUMMARY:  This action withdraws the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) [Docket No. 99-ASO-24] which proposed to amend the Class E 
airspace at Wise, VA and proposes to establish Class E airspace at 
Whitesburg, KY, [Docket No. 00-ASO-1]. A Global Positioning System 
(GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP), helicopter point 
in space approach, has been developed for Whitesburg Appalachian 
Regional Hospital, Whitesburg, KY. As a result, controlled airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to 
accommodate the SIAP and for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations 
at Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital. The operating status of 
the heliport will change from Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to include IFR 
operations concurrent with the publication of the SIAP. The NPRM is 
being withdrawn as a result of the determination that the additional 
airspace to establish a point in space SIAP for Whitesburg Appalachian 
Regional Hospital, Whitesburg, KY, does not join the Wise, VA, Class E5 
airspace.

DATES:  Comments must be received on or before February 25, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Docket No. 00-ASO-1, Manager, Airspace Branch, 
ASO-520, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel for Southern Region, Room 550, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College 
Park, Georgia 30337, telephone (404) 305-5627.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Nancy B. Shelton, Manager, Airspace 
Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 
20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking

[[Page 4193]]

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. 00-ASO-1.'' The postcard will 
be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications 
received 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 the comments 
received. All comments submitted will be available for examination in 
the Office of the Regional Counsel for Southern Region, Room 550, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337, 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 NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, 
Manager, Airspace Branch, ASO-520, Air Traffic Division, P.O. Box 
20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320. Communications must identify the notice 
number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing 
list for future NPRMs 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 part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 71) to establish Class E airspace at 
Whitesburg, KY. A GPS SIAP, helicopter point in space approach, has 
been developed for Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital, 
Whitesburg, KY. As a result, controlled airspace extending upward from 
700 feet AGL is needed to accommodate the SIAP and for IFR operations 
at Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital. The operating status of 
the heliport will change from VFR to include IFR operations concurrent 
with the publication of the SIAP. Class E airspace designations for 
airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet or more above teh surface 
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 would be published subsequently in the Order.
    On December 17, 1999, a NPRM was published in the Federal Register 
to amend the Wise, VA, Class E5 airspace, to include a helicopter point 
in space approach which has been developed for Whitesburg Appalachian 
Regional Hospital, Whitesburg, KY, (64 FR 70610). It has been 
determined that the Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital Class E5 
airspace area would not join the Wise, VA, Class E5 airspace.
    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. 
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 follow:

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 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.
* * * * *

ASO KY E5 Whitesburg, KY [New]

Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital, Whitesburg, KY, Point In 
Space Coordinates
    Lat 37 deg.07'16"N, long. 82 deg.50'34"W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6-mile radius of the point in space (lat. 37 deg.07'16"N, 
long. 82 deg.50'34"W) serving Whitesburg Appalachian Regional 
Hosptial, Whitesburg, KY.

* * * * *
    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on January 12, 2000.
Nancy B. Shelton,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southern Region.
[FR Doc. 00-1816 Filed 1-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M