[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40295-40296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17200]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0490; Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-5]


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Tonopah, NV

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Tonopah 
Airport, Tonopah, NV. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate 
aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System 
(GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Tonopah Airport, 
Tonopah, NV. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and 
management of aircraft operations at the airport. This action also 
would make a minor adjustment to the geographic coordinates of the 
airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 22, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590; 
telephone (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2011-
0490; Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-5, at the beginning of your comments. 
You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eldon Taylor, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4537.

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 2011-0490 and Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-5) 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://www.regulations.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-2011-0490 and Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-5''. 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://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the 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 Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, WA 
98057.
    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 by modifying Class E airspace designated 
as surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Tonopah Airport, Tonopah, NV. Controlled airspace 
is necessary to accommodate aircraft using new RNAV (GPS) standard 
instrument approach procedures at Tonopah Airport, Tonopah, NV. Also, 
the geographic coordinates of the airport would be updated to coincide 
with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action would enhance the 
safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6002 and 
6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.9U, dated August 18, 2010, and 
effective September 15, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in 14 
CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document will 
be published subsequently in this Order.
    The FAA has determined this proposed regulation only involves an 
established body of technical

[[Page 40296]]

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 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 this 
proposed rule, when promulgated, would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the U.S. Code. Subtitle 1, Section 106, describes 
the authority for the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation 
Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority. 
This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the 
FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of the 
airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient 
use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority 
as it creates additional controlled airspace at Tonopah Airport, 
Tonopah, NV.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 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]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR Part 71.1 of the 
Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9U, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 18, 2010, and effective September 
15, 2010 is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AWP NV E2 Tonopah, NV [Modified]

Tonopah Airport, NV
    (Lat. 38[deg]03[min]37[sec] N., long. 117[deg]05[min]13[sec] W.)

    Within a 8.2-mile radius of the Tonopah Airport and within 2 
miles each side of the 358[deg] bearing from the Tonopah Airport 
extending from the 8.2-mile radius to 10.5 miles north of the 
Tonopah Airport, and within 2 miles each side of the Tonopah Airport 
117[deg] bearing extending from the 8.2-mile radius to 11.5 miles 
southeast of the Tonopah Airport. This Class E airspace area is 
effective during the specific dates and times established in advance 
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter 
be continuously published in the Airport/Facility Directory.

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

* * * * *

AWP NV E5 Tonopah, NV [Modified]

Tonopah Airport, NV
    (Lat. 38[deg]03[min]37[sec] N., long. 117[deg]05[min]13[sec] W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 10.7-mile radius of the Tonopah Airport, and that airspace 
northwest of the Tonopah Airport bounded by a line beginning at lat. 
38[deg]10[min]30[sec] N., long. 117[deg]16[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 
38[deg]12[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]17[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 
38[deg]18[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]17[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 
38[deg]18[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]03[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 
38[deg]14[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]03[min]14[sec] W.; thence 
clockwise via the 10.7-mile radius of the Tonopah Airport to lat. 
38[deg]00[min]20[sec] N., long. 116[deg]52[min]20[sec] W.; to lat. 
37[deg]59[min]45[sec] N., long. 116[deg]51[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 
37[deg]56[min]20[sec] N., long. 116[deg]53[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 
37[deg]57[min]00[sec] N., long. 116[deg]54[min]45[sec] W.; thence 
clockwise via the 10.7-mile radius of the Tonopah Airport to the 
point of beginning. That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet 
above the surface within the area bounded by a line beginning at 
lat. 37[deg]53[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]05[min]41[sec] W.; to 
lat. 37[deg]39[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]22[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 37[deg]35[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]36[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 37[deg]56[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]54[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 37[deg]56[min]50[sec] N., long. 117[deg]32[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 38[deg]08[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]41[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 38[deg]18[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]24[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 38[deg]18[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]00[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 38[deg]14[min]00[sec] N., long. 117[deg]00[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 38[deg]17[min]00[sec] N., long. 116[deg]36[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 38[deg]00[min]00[sec] N., long. 116[deg]33[min]00[sec] W.; to 
lat. 37[deg]59[min]30[sec] N., long. 116[deg]38[min]30[sec] W.; to 
lat. 37[deg]53[min]00[sec] N., long. 116[deg]38[min]30[sec] W., 
thence to the point of beginning.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on June 29, 2011.
Christine Mellon,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center
[FR Doc. 2011-17200 Filed 7-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P