[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 30, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25226-25227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10164]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 83 / Tuesday, April 30, 2013 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 25226]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1140; Airspace Docket No. 12-ASW-11]


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Harlingen, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Harlingen, 
TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new 
Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) due to the 
decommissioning of the Sebas locator outer marker/nondirectional radio 
beacon (LOM/NDB) at Valley International Airport. The FAA is taking 
this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001. You 
must identify the docket number FAA-2012-1140/Airspace Docket No. 12-
ASW-11, at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments 
through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. You may review the 
public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any 
final disposition in person in the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 
5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket 
Office (telephone 1-800-647-5527), is on the ground floor of the 
building at the above address.

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:

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 and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2012-1140/
Airspace Docket No. 12-ASW-11.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

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 ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the office of the Central Service Center, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking (202) 267-9677, to 
request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    This action proposes to amend Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 
(14 CFR), Part 71 by amending Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface to accommodate new standard instrument 
approach procedures due to the decommissioning of the Sebas LOM/NDB at 
Valley International Airport (formerly Rio Grande Valley International 
Airport), Harlingen, TX. Small segments would extend from the current 
7.8-mile radius of the airport to 12.3 miles north and 11.5 miles south 
of the airport to provide adequate controlled airspace for the safety 
and management of IFR operations. Geographic coordinates and the 
airport name would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database.
    Class E airspace areas are published in Paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 
7400.9W, dated August 8, 2012 and effective September 15, 2012, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace 
designation listed in this document would be published subsequently in 
the Order.
    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. 
It, therefore, (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

[[Page 25227]]

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 would amend controlled airspace at Valley International 
Airport, Harlingen, TX.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

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

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 FAA Order 7400.9W, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2012, and 
effective September 15, 2012, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Harlingen, TX [Amended]

Harlingen, Valley International Airport, TX
    (Lat. 26[deg]13'38'' N., long. 97[deg]39'19'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.8-mile radius of Valley International Airport, and within 
2 miles each side of the 181[deg] bearing from the airport extending 
from the 7.8-mile radius to 11.5 miles south of the airport, and 
within 2.5 miles each side of the 000[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 7.8-mile radius to 12.3 miles north of the 
airport.


    Issued in Fort Worth, TX on April 11, 2013.
David P. Medina,
Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2013-10164 Filed 4-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4901-13-P