[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]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P