[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 198 (Monday, October 16, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47959-47960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22232]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0458; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASW-8]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Canadian, TX; and Wheeler, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface at Hemphill County Airport, Canadian, TX, and 
Wheeler Municipal Airport, Wheeler, TX. This action is due to the 
decommissioning of the Sayre co-located VHF omnidirectional range and 
tactical air navigation system (VORTAC) facility, which provided 
navigation guidance for the instrument procedures to these airports. 
The VORTAC is being decommissioned as part of the VHF omnidirectional 
range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. Additionally, 
the geographic coordinates of the airports are being adjusted to 
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, February 1, 2018. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
Title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual 
revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11B, 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 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, 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 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 amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Hemphill County Airport, Canadian, TX, and Wheeler Municipal 
Airport, Wheeler, TX, to support IFR operations at these airports.

History

    On June 20, 2017, the FAA published in the Federal Register (82 FR 
28033) Docket No. FAA-2017-0458, a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Hemphill County Airport, Canadian, TX, and Wheeler Municipal 
Airport, Wheeler, TX, to enhance the safety and management of IFR 
operations at these airports. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 
2017, which

[[Page 47960]]

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.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 
2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    This amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface to:
    Within a 6.5-mile radius (reduced from a 6.8-mile radius) of 
Hemphill County Airport with an extension 1 mile either side of the 
224[deg] bearing from the airport from the 6.5-mile radius to 6.6 miles 
south of the airport, and updates the geographic coordinates of the 
airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and
    Within a 6.3-mile radius (reduced from a 6.4-mile radius) of 
Wheeler Municipal Airport and updates the geographic coordinates of the 
airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.
    Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of 
the Sayre VORTAC as part of the VOR MON Program and to bring the 
airspace in compliance with FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures for Handling 
Airspace Matters. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and 
management of IFR operations at these airports.
    Except for an editorial change removing ``JO'' where an FAA Order 
is cited throughout the document, this rule is the same as proposed in 
the NPRM.

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 only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the 
criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5.a. This airspace action is not expected 
to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 FAA Order 7400.11B, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and 
effective September 15, 2017, 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 Canadian, TX [Amended]

Canadian, Hemphill County Airport, TX
    (Lat. 35[deg]53'42'' N., long. 100[deg]24'14'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of Hemphill County Airport, and within 1 
mile either side of the 224[deg] bearing from the airport extending 
from the 6.5-mile radius to 6.6 miles south of the airport.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Wheeler, TX [Amended]

Wheeler Municipal Airport, TX
    (Lat. 35[deg]27'04'' N., long. 100[deg]12'00'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.3-mile radius of Wheeler Municipal Airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 5, 2017.
Walter Tweedy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2017-22232 Filed 10-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P