[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54752-54754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19556]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-7417; Airspace Docket No. 16-AWA-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class C Airspace; El Paso International 
Airport, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class C airspace at El Paso 
International Airport, El Paso, TX, by removing a cutout from the Class 
C airspace area that excludes the airspace within a 2-mile radius of 
West Texas Airport and the airspace beyond an 8-mile arc from the El 
Paso International Airport beginning at the 115[deg] bearing from the 
airport clockwise to the Rio Grande River. Additionally, this proposal 
would update the El Paso International Airport geographic coordinates 
to reflect the current airport reference point (ARP) information in the 
FAA's aeronautical database and remove the West Texas Airport and 
geographic coordinate references from the Class C airspace description. 
The FAA is proposing this action to enable more efficient operations at 
El Paso International Airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 17, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building

[[Page 54753]]

Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; telephone: 1 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2016-7417 and Airspace Docket No. 16-AWA-4 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 9:00a.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.
    FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.9Z at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html. FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 
15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, 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 modify terminal airspace as required to preserve 
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic in the El Paso, TX, area.

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-2016-7417 and Airspace Docket No. 16-AWA-4) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
internet at http://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-2016-7417 and Airspace Docket No. 16-AWA-4.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date 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 comment 
closing date. 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 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 (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, 10101 Hillwood Blvd., 
Fort Worth, TX, 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective 
September 15, 2015. FAA Order 7400.9Z is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.9Z lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify the El Paso International 
Airport, TX, Class C airspace area. The proposal would remove a cutout 
and reduced perimeter boundary arc that excludes the airspace within a 
2-mile radius of the West Texas Airport and the airspace beyond an 8-
mile arc from the El Paso International Airport beginning at the 
115[deg] bearing from the airport clockwise to the Rio Grande River. 
These exclusions from the Class C airspace area were established to 
accommodate operations at West Texas Airport, which was located 
approximately 9 nautical miles (NM) southeast of El Paso International 
Airport. The West Texas Airport (renamed Horizon Airport in 2004) is 
now permanently closed and the property sold for non-aviation uses. 
Since the original purpose for the exclusions no longer exists, the FAA 
is proposing to remove the words ``. . . that airspace beyond an 8-mile 
arc from the El Paso International Airport beginning at the 115[deg] 
bearing from the airport clockwise to the Rio Grande River, and that 
airspace within a 2-mile radius of the West Texas Airport, and . . .'' 
from the regulatory text. The West Texas Airport and geographic 
coordinate references would also be removed from the Class C airspace 
description. These changes would restore the Class C airspace that 
extends upward from 5,200 feet MSL to 8,000 feet MSL to a standard 
configuration 10-NM radius boundary southeast of the El Paso 
International Airport and enhance the management of aircraft operations 
to and from the airport.
    Additionally, the FAA would change the exclusion language 
pertaining to the Class C airspace extending upward from 5,200 feet MSL 
from ``. . . that airspace within Mexico, and that airspace west of 
long 106[deg]27'02'' W.'' to ``. . . that airspace west of long. 
106[deg]27'02'' W., and that airspace within Mexico.'' This change 
would be editorial for format and clarity to standardize the exclusion

[[Page 54754]]

information associated with the Class C airspace surface area and 
shelf.
    Lastly, this action would update the El Paso International Airport 
geographic coordinates to reflect the current ARP information in the 
FAA's aeronautical database from ``lat. 31[deg]48'24'' N., long. 
106[deg]22'40'' W.'' to ``lat. 31[deg]48'26'' N., long. 106[deg]22'35'' 
W.''
    Class C airspace areas are published in paragraph 4000 of FAA Order 
7400.9Z, dated August 6, 2015 and effective September 15, 2015, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class C airspace area 
modification proposed in this document would be published subsequently 
in the Order.

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 subject 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 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(f), 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 FAA Order 
7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 
2015, and effective September 15, 2015, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 4000--Subpart C--Class C Airspace

* * * * *

ASW TX C El Paso International Airport, TX [Amended]

El Paso International Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]48'26'' N., long. 106[deg]22'35'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
8,000 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of the El Paso International 
Airport, excluding that airspace west of long. 106[deg]27'02'' W., 
and that airspace within Mexico; and that airspace extending upward 
from 5,200 feet MSL to and including 8,000 feet MSL within a 10-mile 
radius of the El Paso International Airport, excluding that airspace 
west of long. 106[deg]27'02'' W., and that airspace within Mexico.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 10, 2016.
M. Randy Willis,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2016-19556 Filed 8-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P