[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 9, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35229-35231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12320]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0346; Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-2]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Cordova, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E surface area
airspace and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet and
1,200 feet above the surface of the earth at Merle K (Mudhole) Smith
Airport, Cordova, AK, eliminate references to the Glacier River Non-
Directional Beacon (NDB) and update the Airport's geographic
coordinates to match the FAA's current aeronautical database. This
action would support Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations under
standard instrument approach and departure procedures in the National
Airspace System.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 24, 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-2017-0346; Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-2, 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
[[Page 35230]]
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: Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 2200
S 216th St, Des Moines, WA 98198-6547; telephone (206) 231-2245.
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 modify Class E airspace at Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport,
Cordova, AK, to support IFR operations under standard instrument
approach and departure procedures at this 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-2017-0346/
Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-2.'' 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 St, Des Moines, WA
98198-6547.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document proposes to amend 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 Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) Part 71 by modifying the Class E surface area and
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 and 1200 feet AGL at Merle K
(Mudhole) Smith Airport, Cordova, AK. The FAA completed an airspace
review after the airport was identified as having Class E airspace
established, in error, beyond 12 nautical miles from the shoreline.
This action would modify the Class E airspace extending upward from the
surface by removing that airspace 3.2 miles northwest and 2.1 miles
southeast of the 222[deg] bearing from the Glacier River NDB extending
10 miles southwest of the airport. This proposal would also remove the
airspace 2 miles each side of the 124[deg] bearing from the Glacier
River NDB extending 10.4 miles southeast of the airport. This airspace
is no longer needed because of the implementation of Area Navigation
(RNAV) approaches to Runways 27 and 09. In addition, this proposal
would modify that airspace 2 miles each side of the 115[deg] bearing to
1 mile each side of the 113[deg] bearing from the airport extending 5.5
miles southeast of the airport. This modification would provide
protection for aircraft descending to 1,000 feet on the Instrument
Landing System (ILS) approach to Runway 27.
The Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the
surface would be modified to that airspace within 6.6 miles of the
airport from the point that the 82[deg] bearing intersects the 6.6-mile
radius clockwise to the point that the 309[deg] bearing intersects the
6.6-mile radius, and include that airspace 2 miles each side of the
113[deg] bearing extending 16 miles southeast of the airport. This area
would protect aircraft on departure until reaching 1,200 feet AGL and
aircraft as they descend through 1,500 feet on the ILS approach to
Runway 27.
The airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface
would be reduced to within 20 miles of the airport to provide
protection for aircraft above 1,500 feet AGL while transitioning to the
enroute environment.
The reference in the legal description to the Glacier River NDB
would be removed as the airspace is being redesigned without the use of
this reference. In addition, this proposal would update the airports
geographic coordinates to match the FAA's current aeronautical
database. This action would support IFR operations under standard
instrument approach and departure procedures in the National Airspace
System.
Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6002 and
6005 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.
[[Page 35231]]
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,
and 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 would 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 Surface Areas.
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Cordova, AK [Modified]
Merle K (Mudhole) Smith, AK
(Lat. 60[deg]29'30'' N, long. 145[deg]28'39'' W)
That airspace within a 4.1-mile radius of the Merle K (Mudhole)
Smith Airport beginning at a point where the 69[deg] bearing from
the Airport intersects the 4.1-mile radius clockwise to a point
where the 322[deg] bearing from the Airport intersects the 4.1-mile
radius, thence to the point of beginning and within 1 mile each side
of the 113[deg] bearing from the Airport extending from the 4.1-mile
radius to 5.5 miles southeast of the Airport.
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
AAL AK E5 Cordova, AK [Modified]
Merle K (Mudhole) Smith, AK
(Lat. 60[deg]29'30'' N, long. 145[deg]28'39'' W)
That airspace within a 6.6-mile radius of the Merle K (Mudhole)
Smith Airport, beginning where the 82[deg] bearing from the Airport
intersects the 6.6-mile radius clockwise to the point where the
309[deg] bearing intersects the 6.6 mile radius, thence to the point
of beginning and that airspace 2 miles each side of the 113[deg]
bearing from the Airport extending from the 6.6-mile radius to 16
miles southeast from the airport, and that airspace extending upward
from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 20-mile radius of the
airport, excluding that airspace more than 12 miles from the
shoreline.
Issued in Seattle, Washington, on June 1, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-12320 Filed 6-8-20; 8:45 am]
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