[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 142 (Monday, July 25, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48364-48365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17558]


 ========================================================================
 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. 81, No. 142 / Monday, July 25, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 48364]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FAA-2016-7055; Airspace Docket No. 15-AWP-11]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Restricted Area R-2306F; Yuma Proving 
Ground, AZ.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish restricted area R-2306F in 
the vicinity of Laguna Army Airfield at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ. The 
proposed restricted area would allow the Department of the Army to 
maximize the existing fixed infrastructure to support hazardous test 
programs and segregate these activities from non-participating aircraft 
at Yuma Proving Ground (YPG). These programs include ground and 
airborne testing of non-eye-safe lasers, high energy radars and the 
development of unproven weapons systems. The restricted airspace would 
ensure the safe testing and evaluation of these programs without 
impacting non-participating aircraft and the general public.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 8, 2016.

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; telephone: 1 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2016-7055 and Airspace Docket No. 15-AWP-11, at the beginning of 
your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov. Comments on environmental and land use 
aspects should be directed to: Meg McDonald, Environmental Sciences 
Division, U.S. Army Garrison-Yuma, Yuma, Arizona 85365-9498. You may 
review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person in the Docket 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: Paul Gallant, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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 to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient 
use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority 
as it would establish a restricted area at Yuma, AZ, to enhance 
aviation safety and accommodate essential Army testing requirements.

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-2016-7055 and Airspace Docket No. 15-AWP-11) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Office at the address listed above. 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-2016-7055 and Airspace Docket No. 15-AWP-11.'' 
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 Docket 
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, Western 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., 
Renton, WA 98057.

Background

    Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) is a Major Range and Test Facility Base 
that conducts the development and testing of emerging aviation weapon 
technologies. This testing includes both ground and air-to-ground 
propagation of non-eye-safe lasers, high power radars and 
developmental, unproven weapons systems. Testing includes the actual 
operation of these systems using various proven and unproven aircraft 
platforms. Due to the hazards of these systems, it is imperative that 
these activities be segregated within a restricted area. To safely and 
efficiently test and evaluate

[[Page 48365]]

these technologies, YPG needs to use the existing airspace and ground 
infrastructure at Laguna Army Airfield. Use of the Airfield is limited 
to ``official business only'' with ``prior permission required.'' 
Therefore, hazardous testing could be conducted safely within proposed 
R-2306F without impacting non-participating aircraft.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 to establish a 
new restricted area, R-2306F, extending from the surface to 1,700 feet 
MSL, in the vicinity of Laguna Army Airfield at Yuma Proving Ground, 
AZ. The proposed area would be used for the testing of various 
hazardous systems including non-eye-safe lasers, high energy radars and 
the development of experimental weapons. Testing would include the 
operation of these systems from various aircraft platforms. Restricted 
airspace is required to effectively test these complex integrated 
systems without posing a hazard to non-participating aircraft and/or 
ground personnel. Proposed R-2306F would be completely contained over 
YPG-owned land. No supersonic flights would be conducted within the 
proposed airspace.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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 
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.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subjected to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``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(f), 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 
10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.


Sec.  73.23  Arizona [Amended]

0
2. Sec.  73.23 is amended as follows:
* * * * *

R-2306F, Yuma West, AZ [New]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 32[deg] 51' 52'' N., long. 
114[deg] 26' 52'' W.; to lat. 32[deg] 52' 30'' N., long. 114[deg] 
21' 03'' W.; to lat. 32[deg] 51' 15'' N., long. 114[deg] 21' 03'' 
W.; to lat. 32[deg] 51' 18'' N., long. 114[deg] 19' 29'' W.; then 
clockwise along a 3.5 NM arc centered at lat. 32[deg] 51' 52'' N., 
long. 114[deg] 23' 34'' W.; to lat. 32[deg] 49' 30'' N., long. 
114[deg] 26' 39'' W.; to lat. 32[deg] 49' 51'' N., long. 114[deg] 
26' 38'' W.; to lat. 32[deg] 50' 08'' N., long. 114[deg] 26' 33'' 
W.; to lat. 32[deg] 50' 17'' N., long. 114[deg] 26' 19'' W.; to lat. 
32[deg] 50' 31'' N., long. 114[deg] 26' 17'' W.; to lat. 32[deg] 50' 
42'' N., long. 114[deg] 26' 29'' W.; to lat. 32[deg] 51' 11'' N., 
long. 114[deg] 26' 34'' W.; to the point of beginning
    Designated altitudes. Surface to 1,700 feet MSL.
    Time of designation. Intermittent, 0600-1800 local time, Monday-
Saturday; other times by NOTAM.
    Controlling agency. Yuma Approach Control, MCAS Yuma, AZ.
    Using agency. U.S., Army, Commanding Officer, Yuma Proving 
Ground, Yuma, AZ.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 19, 2016.
Leslie M. Swann,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2016-17558 Filed 7-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P