[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 40 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10730-10731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4751]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00-ANM-03]


Proposed Revision of Class D and Class E Airspace, Great Falls 
International Airport, MT; Proposed Removal of Class D and Class E 
Airspace, Great Falls Malmstrom AFB, MT

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This proposal would amend the Great Falls International 
Airport Class D and E4 airspace areas and remove the Great Falls 
Malmstrom AFB Class D and E4 airspace areas. The reconfiguration of 
airspace is necessary due to the closure of the Malmstrom AFB. The 
realigned airspace will better serve the Great Falls International 
Airport, Great Falls, MT.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Airspace Branch, ANM-520, Federal Aviation Administration, Docket No. 
00-ANM-03, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
    The official docket may be examined in the office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel for the Northwest Mountain Region at the same address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the office of the Manager, Air Traffic Division, Airspace 
Branch, at the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Ripley, ANM-520.6, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Docket No. 00-ANM-03, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW, 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056: telephone number: (425) 227-2527.

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. 00-
ANM-03.'' 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 the light of comments received. All comments submitted will be 
available for examination at the address listed above 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 NPRM by submitting a request 
to the Federal Aviation Administration, Airspace Branch, ANM-520, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington 98055-4056. 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 Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR part 71) by revising Class D and E4 
airspace at Great Falls International Airport, Great Falls, MT, and 
removing Class D and E4 airspace at Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, MT, in 
order to reconfigure airspace due to the closure of Malmstrom AFB. This 
amendment would provide revised airspace at Great Falls, MT, to better 
meet current airspace standards associated with established procedures 
at Great Falls International Airport. The FAA establishes airspace 
where necessary to contain aircraft transitioning between the terminal 
and en route environments. The intended effect of this proposal is 
designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable 
airspace. This proposal would promote safe flight operations under 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at the 
Great Falls International Airport, Great Falls, MT, and between the 
terminal and en route transition stages.
    The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot 
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. Class D surface airspace areas and Class E airspace 
areas designated as an extension to a Class D surface airspace, are 
published in Paragraph 6004, respectively, 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 D and Class E 
airspace designation 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 amendment 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 follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREA; 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.

[[Page 10731]]

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 5000  General

* * * * *

ANM MT D  Great Falls International Airport, MT [Revised]

Great Falls International Airport, MT
(Lat. 47 deg.28'55"N, long. 111 deg.22'14"W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
6,200 feet MSL within a 5.5-mile radius of the Great Falls 
International Airport.
* * * * *

ANM MT D  Great Falls Malmstrm AFB, MT [Removed]

* * * * *

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

ANM MT E4  Great Falls International Airport, MT [Revised]

Great Falls International Airport, MT
    (Lat. 47 deg.28'55" N, long. 111 deg.22'14" W)
Great Falls VORTAC
    (Lat. 47 deg.27'00" N, long. 111 deg.24'44" W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 3.1 miles 
each side of the Great Falls VORTAC 225 deg. radial extending from 
the 5.5-mile radius of Great Falls International Airport to 8.7 
miles southwest of the VORTAC, and within 3.1 miles each side of the 
Great Falls VORTAC 045 deg. radial extending from the 5.5-mile 
radius of the airport to 16.6 miles northeast of the VORTAC and that 
airspace upward from the surface within 4 miles each side of the 164 
degree bearing from the Great Falls International Airport extending 
from the 5.5-mile radius to 13.4 miles south of the airport.
* * * * *

ANM MT E4  Great Falls Malmstrom AFB, MT [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on February 15, 2000.
Daniel A. Boyle,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 00-4751 Filed 2-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M