[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 74 (Monday, April 17, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20349-20350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9404]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-AGL-60]


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:  Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace at Watertown, SD, and 
Britton, SD. A review of the controlled airspace within the States of 
North Dakota and

[[Page 20350]]

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, 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 the 
both pilots and controllers and do not allow for consistent application 
of instrument flight rules in a critical area servicing these airports. 
This action eliminates 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, June 15, 2000.

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:

History

    On Wednesday, February 2, 2000, the FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR 
part 71 to modify Class E airspace at Watertown, SD, and Britton, SD 
(65 FR 4910). The proposal was to modify controlled airspace extending 
upward from 1200 feet above the surface to contain Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) operations in controlled airspace during portions of the 
terminal operation and while transiting between the enroute and 
terminal environments.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
proceeding by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. 
No comments objecting to the proposal were received. Class E airspace 
designations for 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 designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 modifies 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), are 
eliminated. The area will be depicted on appropriate aeronautical 
charts.
    The FAA has determined that 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.

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; 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 95665, 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 
course 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 [Revised]

Britton Municipal Airport, SD
    (Lat. 45 deg.48'55" N., long. 097 deg.44'35" W.)

    That airspace extending 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 March 27, 2000.
David B. Johnson,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division.
[FR Doc. 00-9404 Filed 4-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M