[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25757-25758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10391]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0199; Airspace Docket No. 14-AGL-9]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; North Dakota

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within the boundary of the 
state of North Dakota. With the increased use of GPS/GNSS navigation 
systems, pilots routinely file and fly flight plans using point-to-
point routes instead of published airways. Often, these point-to-point 
routes take aircraft through uncontrolled airspace (Class G). With this 
proposal, Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) would 
provide a more expeditious service and increased efficiency within the 
National Airspace System (NAS).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 20, 2014.

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-2014-0199/Airspace Docket No. 14-
AGL-9, 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: Raul Garza, Jr., Central Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Northwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone: 
817-321-7654.

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.

[[Page 25758]]

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-2014-0199/Airspace Docket No. 14-AGL-9.'' 
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 
1,200 feet above the surface within the state of North Dakota. This 
action would enable Minneapolis ARTCC to have greater latitude to use 
radar vectors and/or altitude changes that would provide a more 
efficient use of airspace within the NAS.
    Class E airspace areas are published in Paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 
7400.9X, dated August 7, 2013 and effective September 15, 2013, 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 rulemaking, 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 proposed regulation is within the scope of that 
authority as it would establish controlled airspace within the state of 
North Dakota.

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 7400.9X, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 7, 2013 and 
effective September 15, 2013, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

AGL ND E5 North Dakota, ND [New]

    That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
within the boundary of the state of North Dakota.


    Issued in Fort Worth, TX, on April 24, 2014.
Kent M. Wheeler,
Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2014-10391 Filed 5-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4901-14-P