[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27430-27431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7155]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23926; Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-10]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Modification of the Norton Sound Low Offshore Airspace 
Area; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the Norton Sound Low Offshore 
Airspace Area in Alaska. Specifically, this action proposes to modify 
the Norton Sound Low Offshore Airspace Area in the vicinity of the 
Shishmaref Airport, AK, by lowering the offshore airspace floor to 
1,200 feet mean sea level (MSL) within a 30-mile radius of the airport. 
Additionally, this action proposes to modify the airspace in the 
vicinity of Nome Airport, AK, by lowering the airspace floor to 700 
feet MSL within a 25-mile radius of the airport, and 1,200 feet MSL 
within a 77.4-mile radius of the Nome VORTAC. The FAA is proposing this 
action to provide additional controlled airspace for aircraft 
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the Nome and Shishmaref 
Airports.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 26, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 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 FAA Docket 
No. FAA-2006-23926 and Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-10, at the beginning 
of your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov.

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:

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 (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2006-23926 and Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-10) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2006-23926 and Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-10.'' 
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 action 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 NPRMs

    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

[[Page 27431]]

 Federal Register's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An 
informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at 
the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue 14, Anchorage, AK 99513.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 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 30-
mile radius of two geographic points near the Shishmaref Airport, AK. 
Additionally, this action proposes lowering the controlled airspace 
floor to 700 feet MSL within a 25-mile radius of the Nome Airport and 
to 1,200 feet MSL within a 77.4-mile radius of the Nome VORTAC. The 
purpose of this proposal is to establish controlled airspace to support 
IFR operations at the Nome and Shishmaref Airports, Alaska. Additional 
controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet and 1,200 feet MSL 
above the surface in international airspace would be created by this 
action.
    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. 
Therefore, this proposed 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 proposal relates to navigable airspace outside the 
United States, this notice 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 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, B, C, D AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

    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]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of 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 6007 Offshore Airspace Areas.

* * * * *

Norton Sound Low, AK [Amended]

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet MSL within a 25-
mile radius of the Nome Airport; and that airspace extending upward 
from 1,200 feet MSL within a 45-mile radius of Deering Airport, AK, 
within a 35-mile radius of lat. 60[deg]21'17'' N., long. 
165[deg]04'01'' W., within a 30-mile radius of lat. 66[deg]09'58'' 
N., long. 166[deg]30'03'' W., within a 30-mile radius of lat. 
66[deg]19'55'' N., long. 165[deg]40'32'' W. and within a 77.4-mile 
radius of the Nome VORTAC; 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.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 5, 2006.
Edith V. Parish,
Manager, Airspace and Rules.
 [FR Doc. E6-7155 Filed 5-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P