[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64249-64250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26801]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

Docket No. FAA-2018-0883; Airspace Docket No. 18-ANE-5]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Bethel, ME

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 Bethel Regional Airport, Bethel, ME, to 
accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) 
standard instrument approach procedures serving this airport. 
Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of 
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This action 
also updates the geographic coordinates of this airport to be in 
concert with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, February 28, 2019. 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 7400.11C, 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 7400.11C 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: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; telephone (404) 305-6364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 64250]]

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 at Bethel Regional Airport, Bethel, ME, 
to support IFR operations at this airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 50050, October 4, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-2018-0883 to 
amend Class E airspace at Bethel Regional Airport, Bethel, ME, to 
support IFR operations at this airport.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two 
comments supporting this action were received.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005, of 
FAA Order 7400.11C dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 
2018, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designation 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 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 
2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C 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 amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more 
above the surface within an 8.6-mile radius (increased from a 6-mile 
radius) of Bethel Regional Airport, Bethel, ME, providing the 
controlled airspace required to support the new RNAV (GPS) standard 
instrument approach procedures for IFR operations at Bethel Regional 
Airport. The geographic coordinates of the airport are amended to 
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

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. 
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 5-6.5a. 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 Federal Aviation 
Administration Order 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, is 
amended as follows:

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

ANE ME E5 Bethel, ME [Amended]

Bethel Regional Airport, ME
    (Lat. 44[deg]25'31'' N, long. 70[deg]48'36'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8.6-mile radius of Bethel Regional Airport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on December 4, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-26801 Filed 12-13-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P