[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57484-57486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22884]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0640; Airspace Docket No. 14-ACE-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Modification of Restricted Areas R-4501A, R-4501B, R-
4501C, R-4501D, R-4501F, and R-4501H; Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the designated altitudes of 
restricted area R-4501B, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, by raising the 
restricted area ceiling from 1,500 feet mean seal level (MSL) in the 
north and 2,200 feet MSL in the south to a single altitude of 4,300 
feet MSL across the entire restricted area. This action also proposes 
to add exclusions to the boundaries of R-4501C, R-4501F, and R-4501H to 
address overlapping restricted areas. Finally, this action proposes 
numerous administrative changes to the R-4501A and R-4501B titles and 
R-4501A-D, R-4501F, and R-4501H using agency information to standardize 
the format and information provided describing these restricted areas 
of the Fort Leonard Wood restricted area complex.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2014-
0640 and Airspace Docket No. 14-ACE-4, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at 
www.regulations.gov. Comments on environmental and land use aspects to 
should be directed to: Martha M. Miller, NEPA Program Manager, DPW 
Environmental Division, Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473; telephone: (573) 
596-8627.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy and 
Regulations Group, Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 57485]]

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 (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2014-0640 and Airspace Docket No. 14-ACE-4) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2014-0640 and Airspace Docket No. 14-ACE-4.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified closing date 
for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed 
rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the closing date 
for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at www.regulations.gov.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person at 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 Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 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, 
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

Background

    Fort Leonard Wood, located in Pulaski County, Missouri, is one of 5 
U.S. Army major basic training installations in the United States; 
training 50,000 to 60,000 initial military training soldiers per year. 
The R-4501 restricted area complex supports the military training 
conducted at Fort Leonard Wood with multiple firing ranges. Within the 
complex, R-4501B contains a number of training ranges equipped with pop 
up targets and electronic scoring to accommodate ammunition up to 7.62-
mm.
    R-4501B currently has 2 ceilings; 1,500 feet MSL in the north and 
2,200 feet MSL in the south. Based on firing parameters and approved 
safety buffers, the U.S. Army has determined and requested the ceiling 
of R-4501B be increased to a single 4,300 foot MSL ceiling. This higher 
ceiling would ensure protection to non-participating air traffic while 
containing hazardous larger caliber rounds during visual and instrument 
meteorological conditions.
    During the FAA's initial review of the proposal, a number of 
instances of overlapping restricted areas within the R-4501 complex 
were identified. To ensure the overlapping restricted areas are not 
active in the same volume of airspace at the same time, exclusionary 
language was drafted for inclusion in the R-4501C, R-4501F, and R-4501H 
descriptions, as proposed below.
    The FAA also identified a number of editorial changes to six of the 
seven R-4501 complex restricted areas to standardize or correct the 
information contained in the existing descriptions. The proposed 
changes are addressed below; are administrative in nature; and do not 
affect the scheduling, use, or activities conducted within the 
restricted areas.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 to raise and 
establish a single ceiling to R-4501B by changing the designated 
altitudes from ``The area north of a line between lat. 37[deg]42'51'' 
N., long. 92[deg]06'48'' W.; and lat. 37[deg]42'53'' N., long. 
92[deg]09'18'' W., surface to 1,500 feet MSL. The area south of this 
line, surface to 2,200 feet MSL.'' to ``Surface to 4,300 feet MSL.'' 
for the entire restricted area. This proposed amendment is necessary to 
ensure containment of hazardous range operations using 7.62-mm caliber 
ammunition that could ricochet 2,500 feet above ground level and exceed 
the ceiling of the existing restricted area.
    The boundaries for R-4501C, R-4501F, and R-4501H would add 
exclusions to prevent overlapping restricted areas from being active in 
the same airspace at the same time. R-4501C would add ``excluding R-
4501B when active''; R-4501F would add ``excluding R-4501A, R-4501B, 
and R-4501C when active''; and R-4501H would add ``excluding R-4501B 
when active''.
    Additionally, to standardize the format and information contained 
in the descriptions for the Fort Leonard Wood R-4501 complex, this 
action would remove the word ``West'' in the R-4501A title and remove 
the word ``East'' in the R-4501B title. The restricted area using 
agency name changes in R-4501A, R-4501B, R-4501C, and R-4501D would 
preface the existing using agency information with ``U.S. Army'', and 
the using agency name changes in R-4501F and R-4501H would update the 
existing ``Headquarters U.S. Army Training Center'' to ``Commanding 
General.'' These administrative changes would not affect the 
scheduling, use, or activities conducted within the restricted areas.
    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. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation: (1) Is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a 
``significant rule'' under Department of Transportation (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 proposed 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 United States Code. Subtitle I, 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 the 
airspace necessary

[[Page 57486]]

to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. 
This regulation is within the scope of that authority as it would 
modify the restricted area airspace at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to 
enhance aviation safety and accommodate essential U.S. Army training 
requirements.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subjected 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 73

    Airspace, Prohibited areas, Restricted areas.

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

0
1. The authority citation for part 73 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.  73.45  Missouri [Amended]

0
2. Sec.  73.45 is amended as follows:

R-4501A Fort Leonard Wood West, MO [Removed]

R-4501B Fort Leonard Wood East, MO [Removed]

R-4501A Fort Leonard Wood, MO [New]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 37[deg]41'06'' N., long. 
92[deg]09'18'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]38'15'' N., long. 92[deg]09'18'' W.; 
to lat. 37[deg]37'35'' N., long. 92[deg]10'38'' W.; to lat. 
37[deg]36'15'' N., long. 92[deg]10'38'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]36'15'' N., 
long. 92[deg]15'22'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]39'28'' N., long. 
92[deg]15'22'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]41'07'' N., long. 92[deg]14'24'' W.; 
to the point of beginning.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to but not including 2,200 feet MSL.
    Time of designation. 0630-2100 Monday-Saturday; other times by 
NOTAM issued at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Kansas City ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

R-4501B Fort Leonard Wood, MO [New]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 37[deg]43'00'' N., long. 
92[deg]06'56'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]42'11'' N., long. 92[deg]06'15'' W.; 
to lat. 37[deg]39'07'' N., long. 92[deg]06'18'' W.; to lat. 
37[deg]38'15'' N., long. 92[deg]09'18'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]43'02'' N., 
long. 92[deg]09'18'' W.; to the point of beginning.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to 4,300 feet MSL.
    Time of designation. 0630-2200 Monday-Saturday; other times by 
NOTAM issued at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Kansas City ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

R-4501C Fort Leonard Wood, MO [Amended]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 37[deg]41'00'' N., long. 
92[deg]16'11'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]41'26'' N., long. 92[deg]10'16'' W.; 
to lat. 37[deg]40'16'' N., long. 92[deg]07'06'' W.; to lat. 
37[deg]38'20'' N., long. 92[deg]06'56'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]36'07'' N., 
long. 92[deg]10'28'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]35'22'' N., long. 
92[deg]15'32'' W.; to the point of beginning, excluding R-4501B when 
active.
    Designated altitudes. From 2,200 feet MSL to 5,000 feet MSL.
    Time of designation. 0900-2100 Monday; 0900-1600 Tuesday-Friday; 
other times by NOTAM issued at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Kansas City ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

R-4501D Fort Leonard Wood, MO [Amended]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 37[deg]41'00'' N., long. 
92[deg]16'11'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]41'26'' N., long. 92[deg]10'16'' W.; 
to lat. 37[deg]40'16'' N., long. 92[deg]07'06'' W.; to lat. 
37[deg]38'20'' N., long. 92[deg]06'56'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]36'07'' N., 
long. 92[deg]10'28'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]35'22'' N., long. 
92[deg]15'32'' W.; to the point of beginning.
    Designated altitudes. From 5,000 feet MSL to 12,000 feet MSL.
    Time of Designation. 0900-2100 Monday; 0900-1600 Tuesday-Friday; 
other times by NOTAM issued at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Kansas City ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
* * * * *

R-4501F Fort Leonard Wood, MO [Amended]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 37[deg]41'00'' N., long. 
92[deg]09'05'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]41'00'' N., long. 92[deg]10'53'' W.; 
to lat. 37[deg]43'02'' N., long. 92[deg]12'11'' W.; to lat. 
37[deg]43'10'' N., long. 92[deg]08'46'' W.; to the point of beginning, 
excluding R-4501A, R-4501B, and R-4501C when active.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to 3,200 feet MSL.
    Time of designation. 0700-1800 daily; other times by NOTAM issued 
at least 24 hours in advance.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Kansas City ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

R-4501H Fort Leonard Wood, MO [Amended]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 37[deg]42'50'' N., long. 
92[deg]07'21'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]44'00'' N., long. 92[deg]07'16'' W.; 
to lat. 37[deg]44'45'' N., long. 92[deg]05'41'' W.; to lat. 
37[deg]44'50'' N., long. 92[deg]04'49'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]46'15'' N., 
long. 92[deg]05'31'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]47'45'' N., long. 
92[deg]06'01'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]48'00'' N., long. 92[deg]06'01'' W.; 
to lat. 37[deg]48'00'' N., long. 92[deg]02'41'' W.; thence south and 
along the Big Piney River and Reservation boundary; to lat. 
37[deg]42'30'' N., long. 92[deg]04'06'' W.; to lat. 37[deg]42'15'' N., 
long. 92[deg]06'06'' W.; to the point of beginning, excluding R-4501B 
when active.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to 3,200 feet MSL.
    Time of designation. 1500-1600 Wednesday; other times by NOTAM.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Kansas City ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2014.
Paul Gallant,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2014-22884 Filed 9-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P