[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4910-4911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2253]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-AGL-60]


Proposed Modification of Class E Airspace; Watertown, SD, and 
Britton, SD

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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

SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Watertown, 
SD, and Britton, SD. A review of the controlled airspace within the 
States of North Dakota and South Dakota conducted after the 
cancellation of a portion of Federal Airway 220 (V-220), Airspace 
Docket No. 98-AGL-49, published September 7, 1999, has indicated 
several small portions of Class G uncontrolled airspace being created 
between Wahpeton, ND, and Brookings, SD. Controlled airspace extending 
upward from 1200 feet above ground level (AGL) is needed to allow the 
FAA to provide safe and efficient air traffic control services for 
aircraft executing enroute and terminal instrument procedures into and 
out of numerous airports in that area. These small portions of 
uncontrolled airspace cause confusion for both pilots and controllers 
and do not allow for consistent application of instrument flight rules 
in a critical area servicing these airports. This action proposes to 
eliminate these Class G portions of airspace between Wahpeton, ND, and 
Brookings, SD, by revising the Class E airspace for Watertown, SD. This 
revision causes a minor change to the airspace exclusions in the legal 
description for the Class E airspace for Britton, SD.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, AGL-7, 
Rules Docket No. 99-AGL-60, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois 60018.
    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, Airspace Branch, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois.

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

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 action must 
submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 99-
AGL-60.'' 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 action 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, SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 
267-3484.

[[Page 4911]]

Communications must identify the docket 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 E airspace at Watertown, SD, and Britton, SD, to accommodate 
aircraft executing instrument flight procedures into and out of 
numerous airports in southeastern North Dakota, northeastern South 
Dakota, and western Minnesota. Several small portions of uncontrolled 
airspace between Wahpeton, ND, and Brookings, SD, created as a result 
of the cancellation of a portion of Federal Airway 220 (V-220), 
Airspace Docket No. 98-AGL-49, published September 7, 1999 (64 FR 
48527), would be eliminated. The area would be depicted on appropriate 
aeronautical charts. 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 7400.9G dated September 1, 1999, and effective 
September 16, 1999, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. 
The Class E airspace designations listed in this document would be 
published subsequently in the Order.
    The FAA has determined that his 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 7400.9G, 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.

* * * * *

AGL SD E5 Watertown, SD [Revised]

Watertown Municipal Airport, SD
    (Lat. 44 deg.54'51"N., long. 097 deg.09'17"W.)
Watertown VORTAC
    (Lat. 44 deg.58'47"N., long. 097 deg.08'30"W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8-mile radius of Watertown Municipal Airport and within 
4.0 miles each side of the Watertown VORTAC 006 deg. radial 
extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 10.6 miles north of the 
airport, and within 1.9 miles each side of the south localizer 
courses extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 11.7 miles south of 
the airport, and that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet 
above the surface within an area bounded on the north by lat. 
46 deg.30'00"N., on the east by the Minnesota/North Dakota and 
Minnesota/South Dakota borders, on the south by lat. 44 deg.30'00"N, 
and on the west by long. 097 deg.00'00"W, excluding that airspace 
within the Fargo, ND, 1,200 foot Class E airspace area and all 
Federal airways.
* * * * *

AGL SD E5 Britton, SD

Britton Municipal Airport, SD
    (Lat. 45 deg.48'57"N., long. 097 deg.44'39"W.)

That airspace extedning upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.0-mile radius of the Britton Municipal Airport, and that 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface bounded 
on the west by long. 98 deg.30'00"W, on the north by lat. 
46 deg.30'00"N, on the east by long. 97 deg. 00' 00"W, and on the 
south by lat. 44 deg.30'00"N, excluding the Fargo, ND, Huron, SD, 
and Aberdeen, SD 1,200 foot Class E airspace areas and all Federal 
airways.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on January 7, 2000.
Christopher R. Blum,
Manager, Air Traffic Division.
[FR Doc. 00-2253 Filed 2-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M