[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 153 (Thursday, August 8, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48299-48300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18866]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0433; Airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-5]


Establishment of Class D Airspace; Bryant AAF, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class D airspace at Bryant Army 
Airfield (AAF), Anchorage AK. This action provides controlled airspace 
to improve the safety and management of aircraft operations at the 
airport due to an increase in the complexity, volume, and variety of 
aircraft in the immediate vicinity of Bryant AAF.

DATES: Effective date, 0901 UTC, October 17, 2013. 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: Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA, 98057; telephone (425) 203-4517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On August 22, 2012, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish Class D airspace at 
Bryant AAF, Anchorage AK (77 FR 50646). Interested parties were invited 
to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments 
on the proposal to the FAA. Thirteen comments were received.
    The commenters were concerned that the creation of Class D airspace 
east of the Glenn Highway might compress traffic using the Eastside VFR 
flyway, adversely affect pilots' situational awareness, and questioned 
the availability of weather information at Fort Richardson. The FAA 
found merit in some of these comments and issued a supplemental notice 
of proposed rulemaking to establish Class D airspace at Bryant AAF, 
Anchorage, AK, but would eliminate that portion east of Glenn Highway 
(FR 78 34608, June 10, 2013). Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. Fourteen comments were received, all in 
support of the supplemental proposal. Subsequent to publication of the 
SNPRM, the FAA found that a digit was left off the first set of 
coordinates, and is corrected in the rule.
    Class D airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000 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 D 
airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in this Order.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
Part 71 by establishing Class D airspace extending upward to and 
including 2,900 feet MSL at Bryant AAF, Anchorage, AK. This action 
provides controlled airspace due to an increase in the complexity, 
volume and variety of aircraft in the immediate vicinity of the airport 
and improves the safety of and management of aircraft operations. A 
typographical error is corrected in the regulatory text for the first 
set of coordinates, changing it from ``lat. 61[deg]17''3' '' to ``lat. 
61[deg] 17''13' ''.
    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 as the 
anticipated impact is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that 
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified 
this rule, when promulgated, does 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 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 airspace. This 
regulation is within the scope of that authority as it establishes

[[Page 48300]]

controlled airspace at Bryant AAF, Anchorage, AK.

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

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace

* * * * *

AAL AK D Bryant Army Airfield, Anchorage AK [NEW]

Bryant AAF, AK
    (Lat. 61[deg]15'57'' N., long. 149[deg]39'12'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,900 feet MSL within an area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 
61[deg]17'13'' N., long. 149[deg]37'35'' W.; to lat. 61[deg]17'13'' 
N., long. 149[deg]43'08'' W.; to lat. 61[deg]13'49'' N., long. 
149[deg]43'08'' W.; to lat. 61[deg]13'54'' N., long. 149[deg]42'44'' 
W.to lat. 61[deg]14'24'' N., long. 149[deg]41'23'' W.; to lat. 
61[deg]15'54'' N., long. 149[deg]38'20'' W.; thence to the point of 
beginning.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on July 26, 2013.
Clark Desing,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2013-18866 Filed 8-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P