[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 198 (Monday, October 18, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57611-57612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21860]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0650; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-11]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Restricted Area R-2511; Trona, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish restricted area R-2511 in 
the vicinity of Trona, CA in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center 
Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake, CA. The proposed restricted 
area is necessary to segregate the testing and evaluation of hazardous 
weapons systems, and other unproven aviation platforms in the early 
development cycle from non-participating aircraft.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 2, 2021.

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 20590-0001; 
telephone: 1 (800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0650; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-11 at the 
beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McMullin, Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

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 
the 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 establish restricted area airspace in the 
vicinity of Trona, CA to contain activities deemed hazardous to non-
participating aircraft.

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 (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0650; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-11) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2021-0650; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-11.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    The FAA will consider all communications received on or before the 
specified comment closing date before taking action on the proposed 
rule. The FAA may change the proposal contained in this action in light 
of comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment 
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRM

    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 ADDRESSES section for address and

[[Page 57612]]

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 office of the Western Service Center, 
Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.

Background

    The NAWCWD is requesting R-2511 for free flight, weapons systems 
transitioning from launch areas within R-2505 to target areas within R-
2524, and from launch areas within R-2524 to target areas within R-
2505. Restricted area R-2511 would replace an existing Controlled 
Firing Area (CFA) that no longer meets NAWCWD's operational 
requirements.
    The NAWCWD has conducted operations within the CFA since 1995 with 
an excellent safety record and no history of operational incidents. 
However, in the future, the NAWCWD requires a space in which it may 
launch weapons that will have varying flight altitudes. The weapons 
will either climb to establish a look-down aspect or descend on their 
path toward their target. Additionally, the weapons' altitude is 
expected to vary some, based on the shooter aircraft's launch 
tolerances and day-of weather conditions. The FAA typically only 
considers CFAs when necessary to accommodate activities that are 
capable of being immediately suspended as the CFA user is required to 
immediately cease any hazardous activity upon observation or 
notification that a non-participating aircraft is approaching the area. 
As such, the CFA does not practically accommodate NAWCWD's needs. 
Accordingly, a restricted area is being pursued.
    The FAA completed an aeronautical study in April 2021. The study 
focused on potential impacts to the National Airspace System (NAS) and 
its users. The FAA utilized the Performance Data Analysis and Reporting 
System (PDARS) to study historical traffic and flight track data to 
show volume, location, and type of traffic that utilized the proposed 
volume of airspace. That data revealed that there would be little to no 
impact to nearby airports, or non-participating traffic transitioning 
the proposed Special Use Airspace.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 to establish 
restricted area R-2511 in the vicinity of Trona, CA. The FAA is 
proposing this action at the request of NAWCWD at China Lake, CA. The 
full legal description is in ``The Proposed Amendment'' section of this 
NPRM.
    R-2511: The FAA would establish restricted area R-2511 utilizing 
the current boundaries of the existing CFA. The altitudes would be from 
6,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), to but not including 20,000 feet MSL. 
R-2511 would be used no more than 36 times per year, between the hours 
of 0700-1700 local time, Monday-Friday, and activated by NOTAM at least 
7 days in advance. Each day would consist of no more than two 2-hour 
blocks when activated.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this proposed 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 
Department of Transportation (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 proposed 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

    This proposal will 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 73

    Airspace, Prohibited areas, Restricted areas.

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

0
1. The authority citation for part 73 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.  73.25  California.

0
2. Section 73.25 is amended by adding the entry for R-2511 Trona, CA to 
read as follows:
* * * * *

R-2511 Trona, CA [New]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 35[deg]37'30'' N; long. 
117[deg]35'33'' W; to lat. 35[deg]40'30'' N; long. 117[deg]25'03'' 
W; to lat. 35[deg]36'00'' N; long. 117[deg]16'55'' W; to lat. 
35[deg]36'00'' N; long. 117[deg]26'03'' W; to lat. 35[deg]27'40'' N; 
long. 117[deg]26'03'' W; to the point of beginning.
    Designated Altitudes. 6,000 feet MSL, to but not including, FL 
200.
    Time of Designation. Intermittent, 0700-1700 local time, Monday-
Friday, by NOTAM 7 days in advance.
    Controlling Agency. FAA, Joshua Control Facility, Edwards Air 
Force Base, CA.
    Using Agency. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. China 
Lake, CA.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2021.
Michael R. Beckles,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-21860 Filed 10-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P