[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 109 (Thursday, June 6, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26341-26342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11773]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0105; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-9]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Manistique, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface and the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Schoolcraft County Airport, 
Manistique, MI. This action is due to an airspace review caused by the 
decommissioning of the Schoolcraft VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), 
which provided navigation information to the instrument procedures at 
this airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) 
Program. The geographic coordinates of Schoolcraft County Airport are 
also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautic database. 
Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of 
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, August 15, 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: 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 the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface and the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet 
above the surface at Schoolcraft County Airport, Manistique, MI, to 
support IFR operations at this airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 8834; March 12, 2019) for Docket No. FAA-2019-0105 to 
amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface and the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above 
the surface at Schoolcraft County Airport, Manistique, MI. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two comments 
were received supporting the proposed action. The FAA provides the 
following response.
    Class E airspace extending from 700 feet and 1,200 feet above the 
surface of an airport is provided for transition to and from the 
terminal or en route environment within the National Airspace System. 
The size and design of this airspace is determined by FAA Order 
7400.2M, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters, and is designed to 
enhance safety and support IFR operations at the associated airports. 
Airspace design does not ``cause'' the decommissioning of a 
navigational aid. The decommissioning of the Schoolcraft VOR was 
determined by the VOR MON Program, a national program. Airspace 
redesign is needed due to the decommissioning of the Schoolcraft VOR 
and the cancellation and revision of instrument flight procedures at 
the airport. Airspace design takes the current airport requirements and 
current instrument and visual departures and arrival procedures into 
consideration to insure the safety of operations at the airport.
    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 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 7400.11C, 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 by amending the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface to within a 6.5-mile radius (reduced from a 7-mile 
radius) of Schoolcraft County Airport, Manistique, MI; amending the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface to 
within a 9-mile radius of Schoolcraft County Airport; removing the 
extension to the east of the airport, as it is no longer required; 
removing the city associated with the airport from the airspace legal 
description to comply with FAA Order 7400.2M, Procedures for Handling 
Airspace Matters; and updating the geographic coordinates of the 
airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.
    This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the 
decommissioning of the Schoolcraft VOR, which provided

[[Page 26342]]

navigation information for the instrument procedures at these airports, 
as part of the VOR MON Program.

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 7400.11C, 
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.

* * * * *

AGL MI E5 Manistique, MI [Amended]

Schoolcraft County Airport, MI
    (Lat. 45[deg]58'29'' N, long. 86[deg]10'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of Schoolcraft County Airport, and that 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 
9-mile radius of Schoolcraft County Airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 29, 2019.
John A. Witucki,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-11773 Filed 6-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P