[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34057-34058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13831]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2004-17900; Airspace Docket No. 04-AEA-08]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Norfolk, VA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action removes the description of the Class E airspace 
designated for Norfolk NAS (Chambers Field), VA; Langley AFB, Hampton, 
VA; Oceana NAS (Apollo Soucek Field), VA; Fentress NALF, VA; Felker 
AAF, Ft. Eustis, VA; Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, 
Newport News, VA; Chesapeake Regional Airport, VA; Hampton Roads 
Executive Airport, Portsmouth, VA; Aberdeen Field Airport, VA; Hummel 
Field Airport, VA; Suffolk Municipal Airport, VA; Middle Peninsula 
Regional Airport, West Point, VA; and Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport, 
VA. The affected Class E-5 airspace for the airports included in these 
descriptions will be consolidated into the amended Norfolk, VA airspace 
description contained in Docket No. FAA-2004-17596, Airspace Docket No. 
04-AEA-06, effective August 5, 2004.

DATES: Effective Date: August 5, 2004.
    Comment Date: Comments must be received on or before July 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule 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-2004-17900; Airspace Docket No. 04-AEA-08 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 rule, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Docket 
Office between 9 a.m. and 5 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, Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY 
11434-4890.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Francis Jordan, Airspace 
Specialist, Airspace Branch, AEA-520, Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY 
11434-4809, telephone: (718) 553-4521.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although this action is a final rule, which 
involves the amendment of Class E airspace within Virginia, by 
consolidating that airspace into one description, and was not preceded 
by notice and public procedure, comments are invited on the rule. This 
rule will become effective on the date specified in the DATES section. 
However, after the review of any comments, if the FAA finds that 
further changes are appropriate, it will initiate rulemaking 
proceedings to extend the effective date or to amend the regulation.
    Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and 
suggestions presented are particularly helpful in evaluating the 
effects of the rule, and in determining whether additional rulemaking 
is required. Comments are specifically invited on the overall 
regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related 
aspects of the rule which might suggest the need to modify the rule.

The Rule

    This amendment to part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 71) amends the description of Class E airspace in the Norfolk, 
VA area by removing the airspace designations for Norfolk NAS (Chambers 
Field), VA: Langley AFB, Hampton, VA; Oceana NAS (Apollo Soucek Field), 
VA; Frentess NALF, VA; Felker AAF, Ft. Eustis, VA; Newport News/
Williamsburg International Airport, Newport News, VA; Chesapeake 
Regional Airport, VA; Hampton Roads Executive Airport, Portsmouth, VA; 
Aberdeen Field Airport, VA; Hummel Field Airport, VA; Suffolk Municipal 
Airport, VA; Middle Peninsula Regional Airport, VA; and Williamsburg-
Jamestown Airport, VA. It consolidates those airspace areas into the 
amended Norfolk, VA description.
    The proliferation of airports with Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) 
operations within the Norfolk, VA metropolitan area has resulted in the 
overlap of numerous Class E airspace areas that complicate the chart 
depictions. This action clarifies the airspace and diminishes the scope 
and complexity of charting. The IFR airports within those areas will be 
incorporated into the Norfolk, VA Class E airspace area. Accordingly, 
since this action merely consolidates these airspace areas into one 
airspace designation and his inconsequential impact on aircraft 
operations in the area, notice and public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b) are unnecessary.
    Class E airspace designations for airspace extending upward from 
700 feet or more above the surface of the earth are published in 
paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9L, dated September 2, 2003, and 
effective September 16, 2003, 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 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 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, Incorporated by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

0
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration 
amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--[AMENDED]

0
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 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

[[Page 34058]]

Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9L, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 2, 2003 and effective September 16, 
2003, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

AEA VA E5 Chesapeake, VA, [Removed]

AEA VA E5 Portsmouth, VA, [Removed]

AEA VA E5 Saluda, VA, [Removed]

AEA VA E5 Smithfield, VA, [Removed]

AEA VA E5 Suffolk, VA, [Removed]

AEA VA E5 West Point, VA, [Removed]

AEA VA E5 Williamsburg, VA, [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Jamaica, New York on June 12, 2004.
John G. McCartney,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 04-13831 Filed 6-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M