[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32511-32512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14471]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact/
Record of Decision and Adoption of the United States Marine Corps 
Supplemental Environmental Analysis for the Establishment of the Playas 
Temporary Military Operating Area

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Finding of No Significant Impact/
Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
decision to adopt the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Supplemental 
Environmental Analysis for Temporary Activation of Playas Military 
Operations Area (SEA) for the establishment of a Temporary Military 
Operating Area (TMOA) in Playas, New Mexico. This notice announces that 
based on its independent review and evaluation of the SEA and 
supporting documents, the FAA is adopting the SEA and issuing a Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
establishment of the Playas TMOA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Miller, Airspace Policy and 
Regulations Group, Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-7378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The USMC has established the Tactical Recovery of Air Craft and 
Personnel (TRAP), Training and Readiness Certification Exercise 
(CERTEX) as a mission essential task performed by assigned and briefed 
aircrews for the specific purpose of recovery of personnel, equipment 
and/or aircraft in a tactical situation when survivors and the location 
have been confirmed. Commonly known as a simulated rescue of a downed 
pilot, the TRAP CERTEX requires use of aircraft and ground forces in a 
closely coordinated set of actions to execute the rescue of personnel 
on the ground. A TMOA is required for military aircraft that support 
the exercise.

Implementation

    After evaluating the aeronautical study and the SEA, the FAA has 
issued a FONSI/ROD to establish the Playas TMOA for a period not to 
exceed one day during a six-day window from August 26-31, 2019. The 
Playas TMOA will be activated by publishing a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) 
two cycles (56 days) prior to the exercise in the Notices to Airman 
Publication and by publishing a NOTAM at least four hours in advance.
    In accordance with Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (``NEPA''), the Council on Environmental Quality's 
(``CEQ'') regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and 
other applicable authorities, including the FAA Order 1050.1F, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 8-2, and FAA 
Order JO 7400.2M, ``Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters,'' 
paragraph 32-2-3, the FAA has conducted an independent

[[Page 32512]]

review and evaluation of the USMC's SEA, dated July 2018, and its 
supporting documents. As a cooperating agency with responsibility for 
approving special use airspace (SUA) under 49 U.S.C. 40103(b)(3)(A), 
the FAA provided subject matter expertise and coordinated with the USMC 
during the environmental review process.
    FAA circularized the proposed action from February 23, 2019 through 
April 1, 2019 in the areas required by JO 7400.2M, which resulted in 
zero public comments. The FONSI/ROD and SEA are available upon request 
by contacting Paula Miller at: Airspace Policy and Regulations Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
7378.

    Issued in Des Moines, WA, on June 24, 2019.
Shawn Kozica,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-14471 Filed 7-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P