[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 133 (Friday, July 10, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41345-41346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14859]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0245; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASW-2]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Athens, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Athens Municipal Airport and Lochridge 
Ranch Airport, Athens, TX. This action is the result of airspace 
reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Athens non-directional 
beacon (NDB). The geographic coordinates and names of airports and 
navigational aids are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, September 10, 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: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

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 amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Athens Municipal Airport and Lochridge Ranch Airport, 
Athens, TX, to support instrument flight rule operations at these 
airports.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (85 FR 27176; May 7, 2020) for Docket No. FAA-2020-0245 to 
amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Athens Municipal Airport and Lochridge Ranch Airport, 
Athens, TX. Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
FAA. No comments were received.

[[Page 41346]]

    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 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.

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 the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface to within a 6.4-mile radius (decreased from a 
6.5-mile radius) at Athens Municipal Airport, Athens, TX; and removes 
the Athens NDB and the associated extension from the Athens, TX, 
airspace legal description;
    And amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Lochridge Ranch Airport, Athens, TX, by amending 
the extension to the north to 2.6 miles (decreased from 4 miles) each 
side of the 356[deg] bearing from the Crossroads NDB extending from the 
6.5-mile radius of the airport to 11.5 miles north of the airport; 
removes the city associated with the airport to comply with changes to 
FAA Order 7400.2M, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters; and 
updates the geographic coordinates of the airport and the name of the 
Crossroads NDB (previously the Crossroads RBN) to coincide with the 
FAA's aeronautical database.
    These actions are the result of airspace reviews caused by the 
decommissioning of the Athens NDB, which provided navigation 
information for the instrument procedures at these airports.
    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 only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this rule, when promulgated, does 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 5-6.5.a. 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.

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Athens, TX [Amended]

Athens Municipal Airport, TX
    (Lat. 32[deg]09'50'' N, long. 95[deg]49'42'' W)
Lochridge Ranch Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]59'21'' N, long. 95[deg]57'04'' W)
Crossroads NDB
    (Lat. 32[deg]03'49'' N, long. 95[deg]57'27'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of Athens Municipal Airport, and within a 
6.5-mile radius of Lochridge Ranch Airport, and within 2.6 miles 
each side of the 356[deg] bearing from the Crossroads NDB extending 
from the 6.5-mile radius to 11.5 miles north of the Lochridge Ranch 
Airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 6, 2020.
Steven T. Phillips,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-14859 Filed 7-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P