[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 31, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48495-48496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18717]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0171; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Tuscaloosa, AL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface at Tuscaloosa National Airport, Tuscaloosa, AL. 
The FAA is taking this action as a result of an airspace review caused 
by the decommissioning of the CRIMSON Very High Frequency 
Omnidirectional Range collocated with TACAN (VORTAC). This action also 
updates the name of Tuscaloosa National Airport, (formerly Tuscaloosa 
Municipal Airport) AL. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety 
and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) in the area.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, December 2, 2021. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR 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: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 30337; Telephone (404) 305-6364.

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 in Tuscaloosa, AL, to support IFR operations in the area.

[[Page 48496]]

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (86 FR 33588, June 25, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2021-0171 to 
amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
at Tuscaloosa National Airport, Tuscaloosa, AL, due to the 
decommissioning of the CRIMSON VORTAC.
    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 E airspace designations are published in Paragraph 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 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 routes, and reporting 
points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by amending the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Tuscaloosa National 
Airport, Tuscaloosa, AL, as the CRIMSON VORTAC is being decommissioned. 
The Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
is amended by increasing the radius from 7.0 miles to 9.4 miles, adding 
an extension 4.0 miles each side of the 117[deg] bearing from the 
airport extending from the 9.4-mile radius to 11.8 miles southeast of 
the airport and within 2.0 miles each side of the of the 041[deg] 
bearing extending from the 9.4-mile radius to 11.5 miles northeast of 
the airport and within 4.0 miles each side of the 296[deg] bearing 
extending from the 9.4-mile radius to 10.8 miles northwest of the 
airport and within 2.0 miles each side of the 221[deg] bearing 
extending from the 9.4-mile radius to 11.8 miles southwest of the 
airport. This action also updates the name of Tuscaloosa National 
Airport, (formerly Tuscaloosa Municipal Airport) AL.
    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. 
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 minimal. Since this is a routine matter that only 
affects air traffic procedures an 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 5-6.5a. 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:

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

* * * * *

ASO AL E5 Tuscaloosa, AL [Amended]

Tuscaloosa National Airport, AL
    (Lat. 33[deg]13'14'' N, long. 87[deg]36'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 9.4-mile radius of Tuscaloosa National Airport and within 
4.0 miles each side of the 117[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 9.4-mile radius to 11.8 miles southeast of the 
airport and within 2.0 miles each side of the of the 041[deg] 
bearing extending from the 9.4-mile radius to 11.5 miles northeast 
of the airport and within 4.0 miles each side of the 296[deg] 
bearing extending from the 9.4-mile radius to 10.8 miles northwest 
of the airport and within 2.0 miles each side of the 221[deg] 
bearing extending from the 9.4-mile radius to 11.8 miles southwest 
of the airport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on August 26, 2021.
Matthew N. Cathcart,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2021-18717 Filed 8-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P