[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55013-55015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24141]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2003-16075; Airspace Docket No. 03-AAL-18]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Mentasta Lake/
Mountains Area, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 55014]]


ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish new Class E airspace in the 
Mentasta Lake/Mountains Area, AK. A commercial flight operator has 
identified a need to operate via Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) from 
Tok, AK off-airways, to/from Anchorage, AK. There is no existing Class 
E airspace below 14,500 feet in the vicinity of the area of Mentasta 
Lake/Mountains, AK to allow Anchorage ARTCC to provide IFR enroute 
services to accommodate the request. Adoption of this proposal would 
result in the establishment of Class E airspace upward from 1,200 feet 
(ft.) above the surface in the Mentasta Lake/Mountains Area, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal to the Docket Management 
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket 
number FAA-2003-16075/Airspace Docket No. 03-AAL-18, at the beginning 
of your comments. You may also submit comments on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov. You may review the public docket containing the 
proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in 
the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5527) is on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation 
NASSIF Building at the above address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Manager, Operations Branch, AAL-530, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 
99513-7587.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derril Bergt, AAL-531, 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.

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 both docket numbers 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 Docket No. FAA-2003-16075/
Airspace Docket No. 03-AAL-18.'' 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 public docket 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 Rulemaking's (NPRM's)

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents 
can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov 
or the Superintendent of Document's Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
    Additionally, any person may obtain a copy of this notice by 
submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of 
Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591 or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must 
identify both docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in 
being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the 
FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, to request a copy of 
Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution 
System, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to the Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR part 71) by establishing new Class E airspace in 
the area of the Mentasta Lake and Mountains, AK. The intended effect of 
this proposal is to establish Class E airspace upward from 1,200 ft. 
above the surface, to contain IFR enroute operations in the area of 
Mentasta Lake/Mountains, AK.
    A commercial flight operator (Part 135) has identified a need for 
more direct IFR routings to/from Tok, Alaska. New Class E enroute 
controlled airspace extending upward from 1,200 ft. above the surface 
within the Mentasta Lake and Mountains area, Alaska would be created by 
this action. The proposed airspace is sufficient to contain aircraft 
proceeding to or from the south of Tok, AK direct to join or leave 
federal airways in the vicinity of Gulkana, AK. 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 1200 foot enroute domestic 
airspace areas are published in paragraph 6006 in FAA Order 7400.9K, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 30, 2002, and 
effective September 16, 2002, 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:

[[Page 55015]]

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 7400.9K, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 30, 2002, and effective September 16, 
2002, is to be amended as follows:
* * * * *

Paragraph 6006 Class E En Route Domestic Airspace Areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E6 Mentasta Lake/Mountains, AK [New]

    That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet bounded on the 
north by V-444, on the south by G-8, and on the west by V-515, 
excluding the Fairbanks Class E Airspace and that airspace 
designated for federal airways.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on September 12, 2003.
Judith G. Heckl,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 03-24141 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P