[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 35 (Thursday, February 23, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11415-11417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03537]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9594; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-20]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Temporary Restricted Areas R-2920A and 
R-2920B; Santa Rosa Island, FL.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish two temporary restricted 
areas, designated R-2920A and R-2920B, south of the Eglin Air Force 
Base (AFB), FL, Range Complex and within the 14 CFR part 93 
``Valparaiso, Florida, Terminal Area'' Special Air Traffic Rules Area. 
The purpose of the proposed areas is to test counter-unmanned aircraft 
systems capabilities. The temporary restricted areas would be in effect 
from May 11 to May 18, 2017.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 27, 2017.

[[Page 11416]]


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-2016-9594 and Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-20, 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: April Lawrence, Civ, USAF, 96 CEG/CEIEA, 
Eglin AFB, FL 32542; telephone: (850) 882-3016. You may review the 
public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any 
final disposition in person in the Docket 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.

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 temporary restricted areas near Santa 
Rosa Island, FL, to enhance aviation safety and accommodate essential 
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-2016-9594 and Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-20) 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 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-2016-9594 and Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-20.'' 
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 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 www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    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 Eastern Service Center, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, 
GA, 30337.

Background

    The U.S. Air Force submitted a proposal to the FAA to establish two 
temporary restricted areas south of the Eglin AFB, FL, Range Complex. 
The areas would contain hazardous activities to be conducted in support 
of exercise Black Dart 2017, from May 11 to May 18, 2017. Specifically, 
the areas would be used to test counter-unmanned aircraft systems 
capabilities. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) of similar size and 
shape to the proposed temporary restricted areas was exercised in 
September 2016 with no issues from non-participating air traffic.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 to establish 
two temporary restricted areas, designated R-2920A and R-2920B, south 
of the Eglin AFB Range Complex, in the vicinity of Santa Rosa Island, 
FL. They would extend from the surface to but not including 8,500 feet 
MSL, underlying a portion of existing restricted area R-2915C. The 
planned time of designation for the areas is 0900 to 1600 local time. 
Approximately 20-30 sorties per day are expected to use the temporary 
restricted areas. The areas would be in effect only during the period 
May 11 to May 18, 2017.
    The proposed temporary restricted areas are required to contain 
hazardous activities associated with testing counter-unmanned aircraft 
systems capabilities. These activities would include the use of 
Directed Energy (laser) devices and Electronic Attack jamming and 
disruptions. All hazard zones would be contained within the proposed 
temporary restricted areas, existing restricted airspace, or existing 
offshore warning areas. Eglin AFB air and surface assets would surveil 
and clear the mission and hazard areas prior to execution of hazardous 
activity. Should a stray aircraft or surface vessel approach a hazard 
zone, all hazardous activity would be halted until the area is again 
reported clear. The Eglin AFB Range Complex utilizes extensive range 
safety procedures to manage all hazardous activities.
    The proposed areas are contained within the west section of the 
East/West Corridor of the 14 CFR part 93 Special Air Traffic Rule: 
``Valparaiso, Florida Terminal Area.'' In accordance with 14 CFR 93.81: 
Unless otherwise authorized by ATC (including the Eglin Radar Control 
Facility), no person may operate an aircraft in flight within the East-
West Corridor unless--
    (1) Before operating within the corridor, that person establishes 
two-way radio communications with Eglin Radar Control Facility or an 
appropriate FAA ATC facility and receives an ATC advisory concerning 
operations being conducted therein; and
    (2) That person maintains two-way radio communications with the 
Eglin Radar Control Facility or an appropriate

[[Page 11417]]

FAA ATC facility while within the corridor.
    To minimize impacts to non-participating aircraft, in addition to 
the existing part 93 requirement that aircraft operating in the East/
West Corridor must establish and maintain two-way radio contact with 
ATC, the Eglin Radar Control Facility would reroute all non-
participating aircraft north of the temporary restricted airspace, 
through the southern portion of restricted area R-2915B. That airspace 
would be scheduled for use by ATC and non-participating air traffic 
when the temporary restricted areas are active. This alternative 
routing has been successfully used in the past to mitigate impacts on 
non-participating aircraft when the west section of the East/West 
Corridor was unavailable. Emergency air traffic requiring access to the 
airspace would be given priority access under the control of the Eglin 
Radar Control Facility, which has direct communications with the Test 
Director to halt hazardous activity in the area.
    Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) and Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) would be 
published at least 24 hours in advance of the daily activation of R-
2920A and R-2920B. The Eglin AFB Public Affairs office would issue a 
press release 30 days prior to the exercise to advise the public of the 
exercise, the activity, and impacted locations. The Eglin AFB Flight 
Safety Office would advise local airports and airspace users of the 
proposed restricted airspace, its impacts and planned mitigations.
    Since R-2920A and R-2920B are temporary areas, they would not be 
depicted on the New Orleans Sectional Aeronautical Chart or the IFR 
Enroute Low Altitude Chart, L-22. However, a notice and graphic 
depiction would be published in the Notices to Airmen Publication 
(NTAP). The NTAP is available on line at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/notices/.

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.  73.29  Florida (Amended)

0
2. Sec.  73.29 is amended as follows:
* * * * *

R-2920A Santa Rosa Island, FL [Temporary]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 30[deg]22'53'' N., long. 
86[deg]50'57'' W.; thence along the shoreline to lat. 30[deg]23'35'' 
N., long. 86[deg]44'24'' W.; to lat. 30[deg]20'34'' N., long. 
86[deg]44'07'' W.; thence 3 NM from and parallel to the shoreline to 
lat. 30[deg]19'53'' N., long. 86[deg]50'39'' W.; to the point of 
beginning.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to but not including 8,500 feet 
MSL.
    Time of designation. 0900 to 1600 local time, during the period 
May 11 to May 18, 2017.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Air Force, Commander, 96th Test Wing, Eglin 
AFB, FL.

R-2920B Santa Rosa Island, FL [Temporary]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 30[deg]23'35'' N., long. 
86[deg]44'24'' W.; thence along the shoreline to lat. 30[deg]23'40'' 
N., long. 86[deg]42'52'' W.; to lat. 30[deg]20'40'' N., long. 
86[deg]42'35'' W.; thence 3 NM from and parallel to the shoreline to 
lat. 30[deg]20'34'' N., long. 86[deg]44'07'' W.; to the point of 
beginning.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to but not including 8,500 feet 
MSL.
    Time of designation. 0900 to 1600 local time, during the period 
May 11 to May 18, 2017.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Air Force, Commander, 96th Test Wing, Eglin 
AFB, FL.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 8, 2017.
Leslie M. Swann,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2017-03537 Filed 2-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P