[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44120-44121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18146]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0274; Airspace Docket No. 12-ANM-4]


Establishment of Class E Airspace; Roundup, MT

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace at Roundup Airport, 
Roundup, MT, to accommodate aircraft using new Area Navigation (RNAV) 
Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures 
at Roundup Airport. This improves the safety and management of 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Effective date, 0901 UTC, September 20, 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: Eldon Taylor, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

History

    On May 9, 2012, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish controlled airspace at 
Roundup, MT (77 FR 27148). Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. The FAA received three comments, all from the 
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
    The NBAA comments recommended that the FAA lower some of the 
adjacent Class E airspace, which is beyond the TAAs, down to 1,200 feet 
above the surface to accommodate orderly en route descent into the 
respective TAA because the NBAA feels that aircraft will not have 
enough airspace to access the TAAs. The airspace in question includes 
the following areas where Class E begins at 14,500 feet MSL: The large 
area to the north, the two smaller areas to the west, and the small 
area to the east. The NBAA is also concerned that the Minimum 
Instrument Flight Rules Altitude (MIA) outside the 1,200 feet above the 
surface would affect air traffic services into the TAAs from the north, 
west and east. Finally, the commenter points out that extending the 
Class E 1,200-foot area would provide relief to Salt Lake City Air 
Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).
    The FAA believes that lowering this airspace is outside the scope 
of this rulemaking at this time, and would not serve the immediate 
purpose of establishing the airspace necessary for the safety of 
aircraft within the Roundup, MT, airport area.
    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 that Order.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
Part 71 by establishing Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface, at Roundup Airport, to accommodate IFR aircraft 
executing new RNAV (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at the 
airport. This action is necessary for the safety and management of IFR 
operations.
    The FAA has determined 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 because 
the anticipated impact is minimal. This rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because this is a 
routine matter that will only affect air traffic procedures and air 
navigation. The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation 
safety is found in Title 49 of the U.S. Code. Subtitle 1, Section 106 
discusses 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

[[Page 44121]]

airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because 
it establishes additional controlled airspace at Roundup Airport, 
Roundup, MT.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 311a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

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 of the earth.

* * * * *

ANM MT E5 Roundup, MT [New]

Roundup Airport, MT
    (Lat. 46[deg]28[min]30'' N., long. 108[deg]32[min]36'' W.)

    That airspace extending from 700 feet above the surface within a 
7.6-mile radius of the Roundup Airport; that airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within an area bounded by a 
line beginning at lat. 46[deg]53[min]00'' N., long. 
109[deg]17[min]00'' W.; lat. 47[deg]04[min]00'' N., long. 
108[deg]04[min]00'' W.; lat. 46[deg]51[min]00'' N., long. 
107[deg]39[min]00'' W.; lat. 46[deg]32[min]00'' N., long. 
107[deg]27[min]00'' W.; lat. 46[deg]06[min]00'' N., long. 
107[deg]42[min]00'' W.; lat. 45[deg]54[min]00'' N., long. 
109[deg]01[min]00'' W.; lat. 46[deg]10[min]00'' N., long. 
109[deg]33[min]00'' W.; lat. 46[deg]32[min]00'' N., long. 
109[deg]37[min]00'' W.; thence to the point of beginning.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on July 19, 2012.
Robert Henry,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2012-18146 Filed 7-26-12; 8:45 am]
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