[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19710-19711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9847]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-3]


Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Nuiqsut, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Nuiqsut, 
AK. Two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) have been 
established for the Nuiqsut Airport. The existing Class E airspace at 
Nuiqsut is insufficient to contain aircraft executing the new SIAPs. 
Adoption of this proposal would result in the addition and revision of 
Class E airspace at Nuiqsut, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 7, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Operations Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 02-AAL-3, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel for the Alaskan Region at the same address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Office of the Manager, Operations Branch, Air Traffic 
Division, at the address shown above and on the Internet at Alaskan 
Region's home page at http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://162.58.28.41/at.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derril Bergt, AAL-538, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 
99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-2796; fax: (907) 271-2850; e-
mail: [email protected]. Internet address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://162.58.28.41/at.

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,

[[Page 19711]]

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. 02-
AAL-3.'' 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 notice may be changed 
in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available 
for examination in the Operations Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK, 
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 Notice of Proposed Rulemakings (NPRM's)

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded, using a 
modem and suitable communications software, from the FAA regulations 
section of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 
703-321-3339) or the Federal Register's electronic bulletin board 
service (telephone: 202-512-1661).
    Internet users may reach the Federal Register's Web page for access 
to recently published rulemaking documents at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html.
    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the Operations Branch, AAL-530, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 
West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587. Communications must 
identify the notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being 
placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the 
individual(s) identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.

The Proposal

    The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 by revising Class E 
airspace at Nuiqsut, AK. The intended effect of this proposal is to 
extend that Class E controlled airspace above 1,200 feet to enable IFR 
operations at Nuiqsut, AK to be contained within controlled airspace.
    The FAA Instrument Flight Procedures Production and Maintenance 
Branch has developed two new SIAPs for the Nuiqsut Airport. The new 
approaches are (1) Area Navigation (Global Positioning System) (RNAV 
GPS) Runway 4, original; (2) RNAV (GPS) Runway 22, original. The 
existing GPS Runway 4 and GPS Runway 22 SIAPs will be cancelled by this 
action. Intersections on existing airways have also been created to 
initiate transitions to the new SIAPs. The transitions require more 
airspace than currently exists to contain Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) 
aircraft.
    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5 mile radius of the Nuiqsut Airport will not be affected by 
this action. That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the 
surface will be revised and expanded if this action is taken.
    The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot 
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. The Class E airspace areas designated as 700/1200 
foot transition areas are published in paragraph 6005 in FAA Order 
7400.9J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 1, 
2001, and effective September 16, 2001, 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 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 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 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 Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9J, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2001, and effective September 16, 
2001, is to be amended as follows:
* * * * *

Paragraph 6005  Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or 
more above the surface of the earth

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Nuiqsut, AK [Revised]

Nuiqsut Airport, AK
    (Lat. 70 deg.12'36" N, long. 151 deg.00'20" W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5 mile radius of the Nuiqsut Airport, and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface from 13 miles 
north and 8 miles south of the 249 deg. bearing from the airport to 
29 miles southwest, to 19 miles northwest of the airport on the 
314 deg. bearing clockwise to the 352 deg. bearing 13 miles north of 
the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on April 10, 2002.
Stephen P. Creamer,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 02-9847 Filed 4-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P