[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32826-32827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8850]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23708; Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-1]
RIN-2120-AA66


Modification of Control 1234L Offshore Airspace Area; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Control 1234L offshore airspace area in 
Alaska. Specifically, this action modifies Control 1234L in the 
immediate vicinity of the Saint Paul Island Airport, AK, by lowering 
the airspace floor from 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL) to 700 AGL. 
Additionally, outside the vicinity of the airport this action lowers 
the airspace floor from 2,000 AGL to 1,200 feet AGL within a 73-mile 
radius of the St. Paul Island Airport. The FAA is taking this action to 
provide additional controlled airspace for aircraft instrument flight 
rules (IFR) operations at the St. Paul Island Airport.

DATES: Effective Date: 0901 UTC, August 3, 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 April 13, 2006, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking to modify the Control 1234L offshore 
airspace area in Alaska (71 FR 19148). 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 by modifying Control 1234L Offshore Airspace Area, AK by 
lowering the floor to 700 feet AGL in the vicinity of the St. Paul 
Island Airport, AK, and 1,200 feet AGL within a 73-mile radius of the 
airport. The action is to establish controlled airspace to support IFR 
operations at the St. Paul Island Airport, Alaska. The FAA Instrument 
Flight Procedures Production and Maintenance Branch developed new 
instrument approach procedures for the St. Paul Island Airport. New 
controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet AGL and 1,200 feet 
AGL in international airspace is created by this action.
    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''

[[Page 32827]]

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

    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.

* * * * *

Control 1234L [Amended]

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 8 miles west and 6 miles east of the 360[deg] bearing from 
the St. Paul Island Airport to 14 miles north of the St. Paul Island 
Airport, and within 6 miles west and 8 miles east of the 172[deg] 
bearing from the St. Paul Island Airport to 15 miles south of the 
St. Paul Island Airport; and that airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface within a 73-mile radius of the St. Paul 
Island Airport, and 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 May 31, 2006.
Edith V. Parish,
Manager, Airspace and Rules.
[FR Doc. E6-8850 Filed 6-6-06; 8:45 am]
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