[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 218 (Thursday, November 10, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78949-78951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27109]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9295; Airspace Docket No. 16-AWP-16]


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace, Establishment of Class E 
En Route Airspace; Paso Robles, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class E surface area airspace, 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and 
establish Class E en route airspace at Paso Robles, CA. After a review 
of the airspace, the FAA found redesign necessary to support new 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) standard instrument approach procedures, 
and en route operations where the Federal airway structure is 
inadequate, for the safety and management of aircraft operations at the 
airport. The geographic coordinates of the airport also would be 
adjusted.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 27, 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-2016-9295; Airspace Docket No. 16-AWP-16, 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.
    FAA Order 7400.11A, 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 7400.11A at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Clark, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4511.

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 
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 at Paso Robles Municipal Airport, 
Paso Robles, CA.

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.

[[Page 78950]]

Persons 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-2016-9295/Airspace Docket No. 15-ANM-6.'' The postcard will be 
date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of the 
comments received. 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. 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 Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057.

Availability and Summary of Documents Proposed for Incorporation by 
Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2015, and effective 
September 15, 2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11A 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 surface area 
airspace, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface, and establishing Class E en route airspace upward from 1,200 
feet above the surface at Paso Robles Municipal Airport, Paso Robles, 
CA. The FAA is transitioning from a system of ground based navigational 
aids, which are being decommissioned, to Global Navigation Satellite 
System (GNSS) for navigation and found airspace redesign necessary to 
support new GNSS standard instrument approach procedures and en route, 
point-to-point clearances for which the Federal airway structure is 
inadequate. The Class E surface area airspace would be slightly 
increased to contain arrival aircraft using IFR standard instrument 
approach procedures as they descend below 1,000 feet above the surface, 
and the language in the regulatory text excluding the Hunter Low A, 
Hunter Low B, and Roberts Military Operations Areas would be removed 
since exclusion is not necessary nor currently shown on published 
aeronautical charts. Also, the Class E airspace upward from 700 feet 
above the surface would be slightly enlarged north and southeast, and 
reduced southwest, to only that area necessary to contain IFR arrival 
aircraft as they descend below 1,500 feet above the surface, and IFR 
departure aircraft as they climb to 1,200 feet above the surface. 
Additionally, Class E en route airspace upward from 1,200 feet above 
the surface would be established to adjoin the Monterey, Lemoore, 
Bakersfield, and Santa Barbara Class E airspace areas upward from 1,200 
feet above the surface, to provide en route controlled airspace where 
the Federal airway structure is inadequate. Also, this action would 
remove the existing Class E transitional airspace upward from 1,200 
feet above the surface since this would no longer be necessary and 
would be redundant with the establishment of the larger en route 
airspace, described above. The geographic coordinates of the airport 
would be adjusted to be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical 
database.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6002, 
6005, and 6006, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 
2016 and effective September 15, 2016, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and 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 7400.11A, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and 
effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AWP CA E2 Paso Robles, CA [Modified]

Paso Robles Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 35[deg]40'22'' N., long. 120[deg]37'38'' W.)

    That airspace within a 5.7-mile radius of Paso Robles Municipal 
Airport.

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Paso Robles, CA [Modified]

Paso Robles Municipal Airport, CA

[[Page 78951]]

    (Lat. 35[deg]40'22'' N., long. 120[deg]37'38'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 10.5-mile radius of Paso Robles Municipal Airport from the 
351[deg] bearing of the airport clockwise to the 040[deg] bearing, 
and within a 5.7-mile radius from the 040[deg] bearing of the 
airport clockwise to the 128[deg] bearing, and within a 9-mile 
radius from the 128[deg] bearing of the airport clockwise to the 
168[deg] bearing, and within a 7-mile radius from the 168[deg] 
bearing of the airport clockwise to the 209[deg] bearing, and within 
a 5.7-mile radius from the 209[deg] bearing of the airport clockwise 
to the 323[deg] bearing, and within 1.8 miles each side of the 
341[deg] bearing from the airport extending to 9.6 miles northwest 
of the airport.

Paragraph 6006 Class E En Route Airspace.

* * * * *

AWP CA E6 Paso Robles, CA [New]

Paso Robles Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 35[deg]40'22'' N., long. 120[deg]37'38'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
within the area bounded by lat. 35[deg]34'54'' N., long. 
120[deg]4'52'' W.; to lat. 35[deg]43'55'' N., long. 120[deg]4'52'' 
W.; to lat. 35[deg]43'58'' N., long. 120[deg]20'49'' W.; to lat. 
36[deg]8'51'' N., long. 120[deg]39'41'' W.; to lat. 36[deg]23'8'' 
N., long. 120[deg]42'26'' W.; to lat. 36[deg]23'13'' N., long. 
121[deg]3'25'' W.; to lat. 36[deg]0'42'' N., long. 121[deg]33'30'' 
W.; to lat. 35[deg]37'48'' N., long. 121[deg]21'48'' W.; to lat. 
35[deg]25'55'' N., long. 121[deg]2'47'' W.; to lat. 35[deg]32'43'' 
N., long. 121[deg]2'47'' W.; to lat. 35[deg]32'52'' N., long. 
120[deg]40'42'' W.; to lat. 35[deg]22'10'' N., long. 120[deg]32'00'' 
W; to lat. 35[deg]31'44'' N., long. 120[deg]14'50'' W.; to lat. 
35[deg]35''25'' N., long. 120[deg]17'41'' W.; to the point of 
beginning.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on November 1, 2016.
Tracey Johnson,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-27109 Filed 11-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P