[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 28, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70823-70824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30250]



[[Page 70823]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00-AWP-6]


Proposed Establishment of Class D Airspace; Sacramento Mather 
Airport; Sacramento, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish a Class D surface area at 
Sacramento Mather Airport in Sacramento, CA. A Federal Contract Tower 
commenced operations at this location earlier this year on a full-time 
basis, twenty-four hours daily, seven days per week. The Sacramento 
Mather Airport routinely serves a large volume of air cargo traffic in 
addition to considerable general aviation activity during both visual 
and instrument flight conditions. Mather Tower controllers are 
officially certified as weather observers for this airport, and 
adequate communication facilities have been established. A review of 
current and projected operations and procedures at Sacramento Mather 
Airport fully supports the need for Class D airspace to enhance 
aviation safety, and in the interest of the commerce and welfare of the 
community. This action would establish Class D airspace extending 
upward from the surface to and including 2,600 feet MSL within a 4.5-
mile radius of Sacramento Mather Airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 12, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Attn: Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-520, 
Docket No. 00-AWP-6, Air Traffic Division, P.O. Box 92007, Worldway 
Postal Center, Los Angeles, California 90009.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 
6007, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261. An informal 
docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the Office 
of the Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeri Carson, Airspace Specialist, 
Airspace Branch, AWP-520.11, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific 
Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, 
Lawndale, California 90261, telephone number (310) 725-6611.

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 the comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 00-
AWP-6.'' 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 Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, at 15000 
Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261, 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

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, 
Airspace Branch, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261. 
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 procedures.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would 
establish a Class D surface area at Sacramento Mather Airport in 
Sacramento, CA. A Federal Contract Tower commenced operations at this 
location earlier this year on a full-time basis, twenty-four hours 
daily, seven days per week. The Sacramento Mather Airport routinely 
serves a large volume of air cargo traffic in addition to considerable 
general aviation activity during both visual and instrument flight 
conditions. Mather Tower controllers are officially certified as 
weather observers for this airport, and adequate communication 
facilities have been established. A review of current and projected 
operations and procedures at Sacramento Mather Airport fully supports 
the need for Class D airspace to enhance aviation safety, and in the 
interest of the commerce and welfare of the community. This action 
would establish Class D airspace extending upward from the surface to 
and including 2,600 feet MSL within a 4.5-mile radius of Sacramento 
Mather Airport. Class D airspace areas are published in Paragraph 5000 
of FAA Order 7400.9H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated 
September 1, 2000, and effective September 16, 2000, through September 
15, 2001, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class 
D airspace designation listed in this document would be published 
subsequently in this Order.
    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. 
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 would 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:

[[Page 70824]]

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 7400.9H, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2000, and effective September 16, 
2000, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AWP CA D Sacramento Mather Airport, CA [New]

Sacramento Mather Airport, CA
    (Lat. 38 deg.33'14", long. 121 deg.17'51"W)
    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.5-mile radius of Sacramento Mather 
Airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Los Angeles, California, on November 16, 2000.
Tommy E. Barclay,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 00-30250 Filed 11-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M