[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 165 (Thursday, August 25, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58417-58419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20152]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-8828; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-13]


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace for the Following Texas 
Towns; Levelland, TX; Vernon, TX; and Winters, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Levelland Municipal Airport, 
Levelland, TX; Wilbarger County Airport, Vernon, TX; and Winters 
Municipal Airport, Winters, TX. Decommissioning of non-directional 
radio beacon (NDB), cancellation of NDB approaches, and implementation 
of area navigation (RNAV) procedures have made this action necessary 
for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) 
operations at these airports. Additionally, the geographic coordinates 
at Levelland Municipal Airport and Wilbarger County Airport would be 
adjusted to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; telephone 
(202) 366-9826, or 1-800-647-5527. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2016-8828; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-13, 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.
    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: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

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

[[Page 58418]]

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 would amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface at Levelland Municipal Airport, Levelland, TX; 
Wilbarger County Airport, Vernon, TX; and Winters Municipal Airport, 
Winters, TX.

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 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-2016-8828/
Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-13.'' 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.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 the ADDRESSES section for the 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 Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic 
Organization, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents Proposed 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 by modifying Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface:
    Within a 6.6-mile radius (decreased from a 6.7-mile radius) of 
Levelland Municipal Airport, Levelland, TX, and updating the geographic 
coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical 
database;
    Within a 6.6-mile radius (decreased from a 7-mile radius) of 
Wilbarger County Airport, Vernon, TX, and updating the geographic 
coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical 
database;
    And within a 6.6-mile radius (increased from a 6.3-mile radius) of 
Winters Municipal Airport, Winters, TX, with an extension to the north 
of the airport from the 6.6-mile radius to 9.3 miles, and with a new 
extension to the south of the airport from the 6.6-mile radius to 9.6 
miles.
    Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of 
NDBs, cancellation of NDB approaches, and implementation of RNAV 
procedures at these airports. Controlled airspace is necessary for the 
safety and management of the standard instrument approach procedures 
for IFR operations at the airports.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 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 E 
airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an 
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current, is 
non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative 
comments. 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 rule, when promulgated, would 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

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 14 CFR 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 FAA Order 7400.9Z, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and 
effective September 15, 2015, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Levelland, TX [Amended]

Levelland Municipal, TX
    (Lat. 33[deg]33'09'' N., long. 102[deg]22'21'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Levelland Municipal Airport.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Vernon, TX [Amended]

Wilbarger County Airport, TX
    (Lat. 34[deg]13'32'' N., long. 99[deg]17'02'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Wilbarger County Airport.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Winters, TX [Amended]

Winters Municipal Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]56'50'' N., long. 99[deg]59'09'' W.)


[[Page 58419]]


    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Winters Municipal Airport, and 1 mile 
each side of the 352[deg] bearing from the airport extending from 
the 6.6-mile radius to 9.3 miles north of the airport, and within 2 
miles each side of the 180[deg] bearing from the airport from the 
6.6-mile radius to 9.6 miles south of the airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 17, 2016.
Christopher L. Southerland,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-20152 Filed 8-24-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P