[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57086-57088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20231]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0384; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-15]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Bethel, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class D and Class E surface area at 
Bethel Airport, Bethel AK, by redefining the

[[Page 57087]]

Hangar Lake exclusion area and eliminating the use of the VORTAC in the 
descriptions. This action removes Class E airspace as an extension to 
the Class D and Class E surface area and modifies the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at the Airport. After 
a biennial review of the airspace, the FAA found it necessary to amend 
the existing airspace for the safety and management of Instrument 
Flight Rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This action also updates 
the geographical coordinates and replaces the outdated term Airport/
Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, December 31, 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 7400.11E, 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 7400.11E 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, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 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 modifies the Class D, Class E surface airspace and Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet AGL at Bethel Airport, Bethel 
AK in support of IFR operations.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (85 FR 35231; June 9, 2020) for Docket No. FAA-2020-0384 to 
modify the Class D airspace, the Class E surface airspace, and the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the earth at 
Bethel Airport, Bethel AK in support of IFR operations. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments 
were received.
    Class D and Class E airspace designations are published in 
paragraph 5000, 6002, 6004, 6005 of FAA Order 7400.11E, dated July 21, 
2020, and effective September 15, 2020, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and 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 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 
2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by modifying the description of 
the Class D and Class E surface areas, removing the Class E as an 
extension to the Class D and Class E and modifying the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet AGL at Bethel Airport, Bethel AK.
    The Class D and Class E surface areas are modified so that the 
Hangar Lake exclusion area is described as that area within .7 miles of 
the Hangar Lake ARP and eliminate the use of the VORTAC in the 
definition. This will ensure that a change in the status of the nav-
aid, in the future, would have no effect on the description and not 
require additional rulemaking.
    The FAA is eliminating the Class E airspace extension to the Class 
D and Class E surface area, as it is no longer required for approaches.
    In addition, the FAA is modifying the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface to within 6.6 miles of the 
Airport (reduced from 16.8 miles) and removing the procedure turn 
maneuvering area from the Bethel Airport to 22.8 miles north, as it is 
no longer required for the approaches. The use of the term Airport 
Facility/Directory is replaced with Chart Supplement and the 
geographical coordinates are updated to match the FAA database.
    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 (E.O.) 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, will 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.

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:

[[Page 57088]]

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 7400.11E, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and 
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AAL AK D Bethel, AK [Amended]

Bethel Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]46'43'' N, long. 161[deg]50'14'' W)
Hangar Lake
    (Lat. 60[deg]48'17'' N, long. 161[deg]43'15'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.1-mile radius of the Bethel Airport, AK, 
excluding that portion below 1,100 feet MSL within .7-mile radius of 
Hangar Lake SPB. This Class D airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to 
Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously 
published in the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Bethel, AK [Amended]

Bethel Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]46'43'' N, long. 161[deg]50'14'' W)
Hangar Lake
    (Lat. 60[deg]48'17'' N, long. 161[deg]43'15'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-
mile radius of the Bethel Airport, AK, excluding that portion below 
1,100 feet MSL within .7-mile radius of Hangar Lake SPB. This Class 
E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times 
established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and 
time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart 
Supplement.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E4 Bethel, AK [Removed]

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Bethel, AK [Amended]

Bethel Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]46'43'' N, long. 161[deg]50'14'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of the Bethel Airport, AK, and that 
airspace 8 miles east and 4 miles west of the 211[deg] radial from 
the airport extending from the 6.6-mile radius to 22 miles south of 
the Airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on September 8, 2020.
Byron Chew,
Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-20231 Filed 9-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P