[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 89 (Thursday, May 7, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27186-27187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09586]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0351; Airspace Docket No. 18-AAL-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; McGrath, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E airspace, designated a 
surface area, at Mc Grath Airport, McGrath, AK. To properly size the 
area, it should be reduced from a 7.6-mile radius to a 5.6-mile radius 
of the airport. This action also proposes to properly size Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. The 
extension north of the airport should increase in size to contain 
arriving and departing IFR aircraft. The extension to the southeast of 
the airport is not required and should be removed. Additionally, this 
action proposes to properly size Class E airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface. The area should be reduced from a 74-mile 
radius to a 45-mile radius of the airport. Lastly, this action proposes 
numerous administrative corrections to the airspace legal descriptions. 
This action would ensure the safety and management of IFR operations at 
the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 22, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
1-800-647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0351; Airspace Docket No. 18-AAL-3, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    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 would amend the Class E airspace at Mc Grath Airport, McGrath, AK 
to support instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as 
they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. 
Communications should identify both docket numbers and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Persons wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2020-0351; 
Airspace Docket No. 18-AAL-3''. The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of the 
comments received. A report summarizing each substantive public contact 
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at  https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the address and phone number) 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 
98198.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace

[[Page 27187]]

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 Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) Part 71 by amending the Class E airspace, 
designated a surface area, at Mc Grath Airport, McGrath, AK. This area 
is designed to contain arriving IFR aircraft descending below 1,000 
feet above the surface and IFR departures until reaching 700 feet above 
the surface. The area is larger than required and should be reduced 
from a 7.6-mile radius of the airport to a 5.6-mile radius of the 
airport. This area is described as follows: That airspace extending 
upward from the surface within a 5.6-mile radius of the Mc Grath 
Airport.
    This action also proposes to amend Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface. This area is designed to 
contain arriving IFR aircraft descending below 1,500 feet above the 
surface and departing IFR aircraft until reaching 1,200 feet above the 
surface. The extension to the north of the airport should increase in 
size to properly contain IFR aircraft. The extension to the southeast 
of the airport is not required and should be removed. This area is 
described as follows: That airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface within an 8.1-mile radius of the airport, and within 
8 miles east and 4 miles west of the 001[deg] bearing from the airport, 
extending from 8.1-mile radius to 15.7 miles north of the Mc Grath 
Airport.
    Additionally, this action proposes to amend Class E airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This airspace is 
designed to contain IFR aircraft while transitioning to/from the 
terminal and en route environments. The area is larger than required 
and should be reduced from a 74-mile radius to a 45-mile radius of the 
airport. This area is described as follows: That airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 45-mile radius of the 
Mc Grath Airport.
    Lastly, this action proposes several administrative corrections to 
the airspace legal descriptions. The airport name on the second line of 
the text header does not match the FAA database. McGrath should be 
removed from the airport name and it should read: ``Mc Grath Airport, 
AK''. The airport's geographic coordinates do not match the FAA 
database and should be updated to lat. 62[deg]57'10'' N, long. 
155[deg]36'25'' W. The Class E surface airspace should be full time; 
the following two sentences do not accurately represent the time of use 
and should be removed: ``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.''
    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 designations listed in 
this document will be published subsequently in the Order.
    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

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal 
Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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 a Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 McGrath, AK [Amended]

Mc Grath Airport, AK
    (Lat. 62[deg]57'10'' N, long. 155[deg]36'25'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.6-
mile radius of Mc Grath Airport.

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 McGrath, AK [Amended]

Mc Grath Airport, AK
    (Lat. 62[deg]57'10'' N, long. 155[deg]36'25'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8.1-mile radius of the airport and within 8 miles east and 
4 miles east of the 001[deg] bearing from the airport, extending 
from the 8.1-mile radius to 15.7 miles north of the airport; and 
that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
within a 45-mile radius of Mc Grath Airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on April 30, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-09586 Filed 5-6-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P