[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12435-12437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04258]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0315; Airspace Docket No. 18-ANM-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Astoria, OR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at Astoria Regional 
Airport, Astoria, OR. The Class E Surface area will be reduced to 
contain published IFR departure and arrival procedures. This action 
also adds two Class E airspace areas, designated as an extension to a 
Class D or Class E surface area. Additionally, this action amends the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 or more above the surface by 
reducing dimensions of the airspace. The airspace reduction will 
properly size the airspace to contain IFR arrivals descending below 
1,500 feet above the surface and IFR departures until reaching 1,200 
feet above the surface. Further, this action makes several 
administrative corrections to the airport's legal description.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, May 21, 2020. 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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://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 7400.11D at NARA, email

[[Page 12436]]

[email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Van Der Wal, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3695.

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 would amend Class E airspace at Astoria Regional Airport, 
Astoria, OR, to ensure the safety and management of Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 68827; December 17, 2019) for Docket No. FAA-2019-0315 
to amend Class E airspace at Astoria Regional Airport, Astoria, OR. 
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 E2, E4 and E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraph 6002, 6004 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11D, 
dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 
2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D 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, designated as a surface area, at 
Astoria Regional Airport, Astoria, OR, to properly contain IFR aircraft 
as follows: That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4-
mile radius of the airport beginning at the 350[deg] bearing from the 
airport, clockwise to the 239[deg] bearing from the airport, thence 
along the 239[deg] bearing to a 5-miles radius, clockwise to the 
350[deg] bearing from the airport, thence along the 350[deg] bearing to 
the 4-miles radius of the Astoria Regional Airport, excluding that 
airspace within a 1-mile radius of the Camp Rilea Army Heliport.
    Also, this action amends the Class E airspace by adding two Class E 
airspace areas, designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E 
surface area. These areas would properly contain IFR arrivals 
descending below 1,000 feet above the surface of the earth as follows; 
That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.1 miles each 
side of the 095[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 4-
mile radius to 9.3 miles east of the airport, and within 2.4 miles each 
side of the 267[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 5-
mile radius to 7.1 miles west of the Astoria Regional Airport.
    Additionally, this action amends the Class E airspace areas 
extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth 
at the airport. The action reduces the overall dimensions of the area 
and properly sizes it to contain IFR departures and arrivals as 
follows; That airspace extending from 700 feet above the surface within 
an 8-mile radius of the airport, and within 4 miles each side of the 
095[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 8-mile radius to 
18.8 miles east of the airport, and 4.3 miles north and 7.8 miles south 
of the 265[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 8-mile 
radius to 16.1 miles west of the Astoria Regional Airport.
    Further, this action makes administrative corrections to the 
airport's Class E2 and Class E5 legal descriptions. The Class E2 
airspace should be full time; the following two sentences do not 
accurately represent the time of use for the Class E2 airspace and are 
removed from the legal description: ``This Class E airspace area is 
effective during specific dates and times established in advance by a 
Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be 
continuously published in the Airport/Facility Directory.''
    The action also removes the Seaside Municipal Airport from the 
Class E5 legal description because the Class E5 700 foot airspace no 
longer overlies the Seaside Municipal Airport.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this rule, when promulgated, would 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.

List 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 14 CFR 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.

[[Page 12437]]

Sec.  71.1   [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11D, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and 
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ANM OR E2 Astoria, OR [Amended]

Astoria Regional Airport, Astoria, OR
    (Lat. 46[deg]09'29'' N, long. 123[deg]52'43'' W)
Camp Rilea Army Heliport
    (Lat. 46[deg]06'59'' N, long. 123[deg]55'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4-mile 
radius of the airport beginning at the 350[deg] bearing from the 
airport, clockwise to the 239[deg] bearing from the airport, thence 
along the 239[deg] bearing to a 5-miles radius, clockwise to the 
350[deg] bearing from the airport, thence along the 350[deg] bearing 
to the 4-miles radius of the Astoria Regional Airport, excluding 
that airspace within a 1-mile radius of the Camp Rilea Army 
Heliport.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM OR E4 Astoria, OR [New]

Astoria Regional Airport, Astoria, OR
    (Lat. 46[deg]09'29'' N, long. 123[deg]52'43'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.1 miles 
each side of the 095[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from 
the 4-mile radius to 9.3 miles east of the airport, and within 2.4 
miles each side of the 267[deg] bearing from the airport, extending 
from the 5-mile radius to 7.1 miles west of the Astoria Regional 
Airport.

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

* * * * *

ANM OR E5 Astoria, OR [Amended]

Astoria Regional Airport, Astoria, OR
    (Lat. 46[deg]09'29'' N, long. 123[deg]52'43'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8-mile radius of the airport, and within 4 miles each side 
of the 095[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 8-mile 
radius to 18.8 miles east of the airport, and 4.3 miles north and 
7.8 miles south of the 265[deg] bearing from the airport, extending 
from the 8-mile radius to 16.1 miles west of the Astoria Regional 
Airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on February 26, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Group Manager, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-04258 Filed 3-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P