[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11297-11298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2111]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2005-23271; Airspace Docket No. 05-AWP-15]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Class E Enroute Domestic Airspace Area, 
Vandenberg AFB, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:  Direct final rule, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes a Class E enroute domestic airspace 
area, Vandenberg AFB to replace existing Class G uncontrolled airspace.

DATES: Effective Date: 0901 UTC July 6, 2006. Comment date: Comments 
for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before April 
6, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the direct final rule to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Attn: Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-520, Docket No. 05-
AWP-15, Western Terminal Operations, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, 
California 90009. The official docket may be examined in the Office of 
the Assistant Chief 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, Western Terminal 
Operations, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francie Hope, Western Terminal 
Operations Airspace Specialist, AWP-520.3, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261, 
telephone (310) 725-6502.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action will establish a Class E enroute 
domestic airspace area to the south, west and north of Vandenberg AFB, 
CA, including Restricted Areas 2516 and 2517, and to the west of San 
Luis Obispo. This Class E enroute domestic airspace will contain 
aircraft while in Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions under 
control of Santa Barbara Terminal Radar Approach Control. On November 
2, 2005, airspace was transferred from Los Angeles Air Route Traffic 
Control Center to Santa Barbara Terminal Radar Approach Control. In 
order to provide positive control of aircraft in these

[[Page 11298]]

areas, the airspace must be designated as controlled airspace.
    Class E enroute domestic airspace areas are published in Paragraph 
6006 of FAA Order 7400.9N dated September 1, 2005, and effective 
September 15, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. 
The Class E enroute domestic airspace designation listed in this 
document would be published subsequently in this Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse 
or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule. 
Unless a written adverse or negative comment or a written notice of 
intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is received within the 
comment period, the regulation will become effective on the date 
specified above. After the close of the comment period, the FAA will 
publish a document in the Federal Register indicating that no adverse 
or negative comments were received and confirming the date on which the 
final rule will become effective. If the FAA does receive, within the 
comment period, an adverse or negative comment, or written notice of 
intent to submit such a comment, a document withdrawing the direct 
final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a notice of 
proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not 
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of 
the comment received. Factual information that supports the commenter's 
ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the 
effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-pubic contact concerned with the substance of this 
action will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to airspace Docket No. 05-AWP-15.'' The postcard will be date stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and 
unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons 
discussed in the preamble, 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

0
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; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS.

0
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]  

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9N, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2005, and effective September 15, 
2005, is amended as follows:
* * * * *

Paragraph 6006 Enroute Domestic Airspace Areas.

* * * * *

Lompoc, CA, Vandenberg AFB [Established]

    That airspace extending upward from 1200 feet above the surface 
bounded on the north by Monterey Class E5 airspace, on the east by 
V27 and Santa Barbara Class E5 airspace, on the south by the 
northern boundary of Control Area 1176L, and on the west by a line 
12 miles from and parallel to the U.S. shoreline and Control Area 
Pacific Low, excluding Control Area 1155L.

    Issued in Los Angeles, California on February 22, 2006.
John Clancy,
Area Director, Western Terminal Operations.
[FR Doc. 06-2111 Filed 3-6-06; 8:45 am]
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