[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11298-11300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2112]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22024; Airspace Docket No. 05-AAL-38]
RIN-2120-AA66


Modification of the Norton Sound Low, Woody Island Low and 1234L 
Offshore Airspace Areas; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Norton Sound Low, Woody Island Low and 
1234L Offshore Airspace Areas in Alaska. Specifically, this action 
modifies the Norton Sound Low Offshore Airspace Area in the vicinity of 
the Toksook Bay Airport, Toksook Bay, AK, by lowering the Offshore 
airspace floor to 1,200 feet mean sea level (MSL) within a 35-mile 
radius from a defined point just south of the airport. This action also 
modifies the Woody Island Low and 1234L Offshore Airspace Areas in the 
vicinity of the Chignik Airport, Chignik, AK, by lowering the Offshore 
airspace floors to 1,200 feet MSL within a 72.8-mile radius from the 
Chignik

[[Page 11299]]

Airport. The additional controlled airspace is necessary for the safety 
of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the Toksook Bay and 
Chignik Airports.

 Effective Date: 0901 UTC, June 8, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, Airspace and Rules, 
Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On December 28, 2005, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking to modify the Norton Sound low, Woody 
Island Low, and 1234L Offshore Control Areas in Alaska (70 FR 76730). 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were 
received.
    Offshore Airspace Areas are published in paragraph 6007 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 Offshore 
Airspace Areas listed in this document will be published subsequently 
in the order.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 to modify the Norton Sound Low Offshore Airspace Area, AK by 
lowering the floor to 1,200 feet MSL within a 35-mile radius of a point 
just south of Toksook Bay Airport, AK. The floor of Woody Island Low 
and 1234L Offshore Airspace Areas, AK is lowered to 1,200 feet MSL 
within a 72.8-mile radius of Chignik Airport. This rule establishes 
controlled airspace to support IFR operations at the Toksook Bay and 
Chignik Airports, AK. The FAA Instrument Flight Procedures Production 
and Maintenance Branch developed new instrument approach procedures for 
the Toksook Bay and Chignik Airports. New controlled airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet MSL above the surface in international airspace 
is created by this action. This airspace is sufficient to support the 
safety of IFR operations at the Toksook Bay and Chignik Airports.
    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 Department of Transportation (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, when promulgated, will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

ICAO Considerations

    As part of this rule relates to navigable airspace outside the 
United States, the notice of this action is submitted in accordance 
with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) International 
Standards and Recommended Practices.
    The application of International Standards and Recommended 
Practices by the FAA, Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, 
Airspace & Rules, in areas outside the United States domestic airspace, 
is governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. 
Specifically, the FAA is governed by Article 12 and Annex 11, which 
pertain to the establishment of necessary air navigational facilities 
and services to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of 
civil air traffic. The purpose of Article 12 and Annex 11 is to ensure 
that civil aircraft operations on international air routes are 
performed under uniform conditions.
    The International Standards and Recommended Practices in Annex 11 
apply to airspace under the jurisdiction of a contracting state, 
derived from ICAO. Annex 11 provisions apply when air traffic services 
are provided and a contracting state accepts the responsibility of 
providing air traffic services over high seas or in airspace of 
undetermined sovereignty. A contracting state accepting this 
responsibility may apply the International Standards and Recommended 
Practices that are consistent with standards and practices utilized in 
its domestic jurisdiction.
    In accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, state-owned 
aircraft are exempt from the Standards and Recommended Practices of 
Annex 11. The United States is a contracting state to the Convention. 
Article 3(d) of the Convention provides that participating state 
aircraft will be operated in international airspace with due regard for 
the safety of civil aircraft. Since this action involves, in part, the 
designation of navigable airspace outside the United States, the 
Administrator is consulting with the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary of Defense in accordance with the provisions of Executive 
Order 10854.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

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, B, C, D AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

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.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

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

Paragraph 6007 Offshore Airspace Areas.

* * * * *

Norton Sound Low, AK [Amended]

    That airspace extending upward from 1,200 MSL within a 45-mile 
radius of Deering Airport, AK, and within a 35-mile radius of lat. 
60[deg]21'17'' N., long. 165[deg]04'01'' W., and airspace extending 
upward from 14,500 feet MSL within an area bounded by a line 
beginning at lat. 59[deg]59'57'' N., long. 168[deg]00'08'' W.; to 
lat. 62[deg]35'00'' N., long. 175[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 
65[deg]00'00'' N., long. 168[deg]58'23'' W.; to lat. 68[deg]00'00'' 
N., long. 168[deg]58'23'' W.; to a point 12 miles offshore at lat. 
68[deg]00'00'' N.; thence by a line 12 miles from and parallel to 
the shoreline to lat. 56[deg]42'59'' N., long. 160[deg]00'00'' W.; 
to lat. 58[deg]06'57'' N., long. 160[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 
57[deg]45'57'' N., long. 161[deg]46'08'' W.; to the point of 
beginning.
* * * * *

Woody Island Low, AK [Amended]

    The airspace extending upward from 1,200 MSL within a 72.8-mile 
radius of Chignik Airport, AK, and that airspace extending upward 
from 14,500 feet MSL within the area bounded by a line beginning at 
lat. 53[deg]30'00'' N., long. 160[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 
56[deg]00'00'' N., long. 153[deg]0'00'' W.; to lat. 56[deg]45'42'' 
N., long. 151[deg]45'00'' W.; to lat. 58[deg]19'58'' N., long. 
148[deg]55'07'' W.; to lat. 59[deg]08'34'' N., long. 147[deg]16'06'' 
W.; thence clockwise via the arc of a 149.5-mile radius circle 
centered on the Anchorage, AK, VOR/DME to a point 12 miles offshore; 
thence southwest by a line 12 miles from and parallel to the 
shoreline to a

[[Page 11300]]

point 12 miles offshore at long. 160[deg]00'00'' W.; to the point of 
beginning.
* * * * *

1234L [Amended]

    The airspace extending upward from 1,200 MSL within a 72.8-mile 
radius of Chignik Airport, AK, and that airspace extending upward 
from 2,000 feet above the surface within an area bounded by a line 
beginning at lat. 58[deg]06'57'' N., long. 160[deg]00'00'' W., south 
along long. 160[deg]00'00'' W. until it intersects the Anchorage Air 
Route Traffic Control Center boundary; thence southwest, northwest, 
north, and northeast along the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control 
Center boundary to lat. 62[deg]35'00'' N., long. 175[deg]00'00'' W.; 
to lat. 59[deg]59'57'' N., long. 168[deg]00'08'' W.; to lat. 
57[deg]45'57'' N., long. 161[deg]46'08'' W.; to the point of 
beginning.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 22, 2006.
Edith V. Parish,
Manager, Airspace and Rules.
[FR Doc. 06-2112 Filed 3-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P