[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 6, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55483-55485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21631]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0357; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Portsmouth, NH

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class D airspace and Class E airspace for 
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, Portsmouth, NH, due to the 
decommissioning of the PEASE Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range 
Collocated with Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and cancellation 
of the standard instrument associated approach procedures (SIAPs). This 
action also updates the airport's name and geographic coordinates. 
Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of 
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

[[Page 55484]]


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 JO 7400.11 
and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://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 JO 7400.11F 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 airspace for Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, 
Portsmouth, NH, to support IFR operations in the area.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (86 FR 37090, July 14, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2021-0357 to 
amend Class D airspace and remove Class E surface airspace area 
designated as an extension to Class D and Class E airspace, and amend 
Class E airspace extending up from 700 feet above the surface for 
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, Portsmouth, NH. In addition, 
the FAA is updating the airport name to Portsmouth International 
Airport at Pease, as well as the geographical coordinates of the 
airport.
    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 E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 
5000, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated 
August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, 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 JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021 and effective September 15, 
2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 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 Class D airspace, 
increasing the radius to 4.7 miles from 4.5 miles, removing Class E 
airspace area designated as an extension to Class D and Class E surface 
area as it is no longer necessary, and amending Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Portsmouth 
International Airport at Pease, Portsmouth, NH, due to the 
decommissioning of the PEASE VOR/DME and cancellation of the associated 
approach procedures (SIAPs). This action updates the airport name to 
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (formerly Pease International 
Tradeport). In addition, the FAA updates the geographic coordinates of 
the airport and Littlebrook Air Park to coincide with the FAA's 
database. These changes are necessary for continued safety and 
management of IFR operations in the area. Also, the reference to 
Newburyport, MA, and Boston, MA, Class E airspace areas are omitted 
from the Class E5 descriptor, as this airspace is shared amongst the 
airports.
    FAA Order JO 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 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 5-6.5a. 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 JO 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

[[Page 55485]]

ANE NH D Portsmouth, NH [Amended]

Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, NH
    (Lat. 43[deg]04'41'' N, long. 70[deg]49'24'' W)
Eliot, Littlebrook Air Park, ME
    (Lat. 43[deg]08'35'' N, long. 70[deg]46'24'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.7-mile radius of the Portsmouth 
International Airport at Pease, excluding that airspace within a 
1.5-mile radius of the Littlebrook Air Park.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to Class 
E Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANE NH E4 Portsmouth, NH [Removed]

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

* * * * *

ANE NH E5 Portsmouth, NH [Amended]

Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, NH
    (Lat. 43[deg]04'41'' N, long. 70[deg]49'24'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8.2-mile radius of Portsmouth International Airport at 
Pease.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on September 29, 2021.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2021-21631 Filed 10-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P