[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 73504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30532]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0498; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASW-5]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Alice, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace for the Alice, TX, area. 
Cancellation of all standard instrument approach procedures at Old 
Hoppe Place Airport, Agua Dulce, TX, has made this action necessary to 
enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) 
operations in the Alice, TX, area. Also, the geographic coordinates for 
the remaining airports and a navigation aid are updated.

DATES: Effective date: 0901 UTC, February 9, 2012. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Enander, Central Service Center, 
Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest 
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 321-
7716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On August 26, 2011, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Class E airspace for Alice, TX, 
reconfiguring controlled airspace at Old Hoppe Place Airport (76 FR 
53352) Docket No. FAA-2011-0498. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received. Class E airspace 
designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9V dated 
August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 2011, which is incorporated 
by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations 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 amending Class E airspace for the Alice, TX area. Controlled 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface is being 
removed at Old Hoppe Place Airport, Agua Dulce, TX, due to the 
cancellation of all standard instrument approach procedures at the 
airport. This action is necessary for the safety and management of IFR 
operations in the Alice, TX, area. Also, the geographic coordinates for 
Alice International Airport, Orange Grove NALF, and the Kleberg County 
non-directional radio beacon (NDB) are updated to coincide with the 
FAA's aeronautical database.
    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 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, when promulgated, will 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 of 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 
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 amends controlled airspace in the Alice, TX, area.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of 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 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 7400.9V, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 
2011 is amended as follows:
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Alice, TX [Amended]

Alice International Airport, TX
    (Lat. 27[deg]44'27'' N., long. 98[deg]01'37'' W.)
Orange Grove NALF, TX
    (Lat. 27[deg]53'49'' N., long. 98[deg]02'37'' W.)
Navy Orange Grove TACAN
    (Lat. 27[deg]53'43'' N., long. 98[deg]02'33''W.)
Kingsville, Kleberg County Airport, TX
    (Lat. 27[deg]33'03'' N., long. 98[deg]01'51'' W.)
Kleberg County NDB
    (Lat. 27[deg]36'23'' N., long. 98[deg]05'09'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.5-mile radius of Alice International Airport, and within 
2 miles each side of the 135[deg] bearing from Alice International 
Airport extending from the 7.5-mile radius to 9.8 miles southeast of 
the airport, and within a 7.2-mile radius of Orange Grove NALF, and 
within 1.6 miles each side of the 129[deg] radial of the Navy Orange 
Grove TACAN extending from the 7.2-mile radius of Orange Grove NALF 
to 11 miles southeast of Orange Grove NALF, and within 1.5 miles 
each side of the 320[deg] radial of the Navy Orange Grove TACAN 
extending from the 7.2-mile radius of Orange Grove NALF to 9.7 miles 
northwest of Orange Grove NALF, and within a 6.5-mile radius of 
Kleberg County Airport, and within 4 miles east and 8 miles west of 
the 306[deg] bearing extending from the Kleberg County NDB to 14.4 
miles northwest of the airport, excluding that airspace within the 
Corpus Christi, TX, Class E airspace area.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 9, 2011.
Gail L. Kasson,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2011-30532 Filed 11-28-11; 8:45 am]
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