[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 6, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26845-26846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09591]



[[Page 26845]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-1061; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-06]
RIN 2120-AA66


Revocation and Amendment of Class E Airspace; Williston, ND

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action revokes Class E airspace at Sloulin Field 
International Airport, Williston, ND, due to the airport's closure. 
This action also amends Class E airspace at Williston Basin 
International Airport, Williston, ND. The action establishes Class E 
airspace designated as a surface area. Additionally, this action amends 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface by 
adding two extensions, one to the southeast and one to the north of the 
airport. Further, this action adds a Class E airspace area extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. Lastly, this action 
implements an administrative correction to the Class E5 airspace legal 
description's text header by updating the airport's geographic 
coordinate to match the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, July 16, 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 [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 revokes the Class E airspace at Sloulin Field International 
Airport and amends the Class E airspace at Williston Basin 
International Airport, Williston, ND, 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 (85 FR 12449; March 3, 2020) for Docket No. FAA-2019-1061 to 
revoke airspace at Sloulin Field International Airport and amend Class 
E airspace at Williston Basin International Airport, Williston, ND. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. One 
comment was received.
    The comment was not germane to the proposed airspace action for the 
airports.
    Class E2 and E5 airspace designations are published in paragraphs 
6002 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 revokes the Class E airspace at Sloulin Field International 
Airport at Williston ND, due to the airport's closure.
    This action also amends Class E airspace at Williston Basin 
International Airport, Williston, ND. The action establishes Class E 
airspace, designated at a surface area. This area is designed to 
provide controlled airspace for terminal operations where a control 
tower is not in operation. This area is described as follows: That 
airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-mile radius of 
the airport, and within 1.3 miles each side of the 135[deg] bearing 
from the airport, extending from the 4.2-mile radius to 4.7 miles 
southeast of the airport, and within 1.3 miles each side of the 
339[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 4.2-mile radius 
to 4.7 miles north of the Williston Basin International Airport.
    Additionally, this action amends the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface by adding two extensions to the 
current 6.7-mile radius of the airport. One to the southeast and one to 
the north of the airport. This area is designed to accommodate arriving 
IFR aircraft descend below 1,500 feet above the surface and departing 
IFR aircraft until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface. The area is 
described as follows: That airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface within a 6.7-mile radius of the airport, and within 
3.6 miles each side of the 132[deg] bearing from the airport, extending 
from the 6.7-mile radius to 11.4 miles southeast of the airport, and 
within 3.6 miles each side of the 340[deg] bearing from the airport, 
extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 11 miles north of the Williston 
Basin International Airport.
    Further, this action adds Class E airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface. This area is designed to accommodate IFR 
aircraft transitioning to/from the terminal or en route environments. 
The area is described as follows: That airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface within a 41-mile radius of the Williston 
Basin International Airport.
    Lastly, this action implements an administrative correction to the 
Class E5 airspace legal description's text header by updating the 
airport's geographic coordinate to match the FAA's aeronautical 
database. The coordinates read: lat. 48[deg]15'39'' N, long. 
103[deg]45'04'' W.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is

[[Page 26846]]

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.


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.

* * * * *

AGL ND E2 Williston, ND [Revoked]

Williston, Sloulin Field International Airport, ND
    (Lat. 48[deg]10'41'' N, long. 103[deg]38'32'' W)

AGL ND E2 Williston, ND [New]

Williston Basin International Airport, ND
    (Lat. 48[deg]15'39'' N, long. 103[deg]45'04'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-
mile radius of the airport, and within 1.3 miles each side of the 
135[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 4.2-mile 
radius to 4.7 miles southeast of the airport, and within 1.3 miles 
each side of the 339[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from 
the 4.2-mile radius to 4.7 miles north of the Williston Basin 
International Airport.

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

* * * * *

AGL ND E5 Williston, ND [Revoked]

Sloulin Field International Airport, ND
    (Lat. 48[deg]10'41'' N, long. 103[deg]38'32'' W)

AGL ND E5 Williston, ND [Amended]

Williston Basin International Airport, ND
    (Lat. 48[deg]15'39'' N, long. 103[deg]45'04'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of the airport, and within 3.6 miles each 
side of the 132[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 
6.7-mile radius to 11.4 miles southeast of the airport, and within 
3.6 miles each side of the 340[deg] bearing from the airport, 
extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 11 miles north of the airport; 
and that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
within a 41-mile radius of the Williston Basin International 
Airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on April 29, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Group Manager, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-09591 Filed 5-5-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P