[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52442-52443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18342]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0758; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-24]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Coldwater and Sturgis, MI
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace at Coldwater and
Sturgis, MI. This action is due to an airspace review conducted as part
of the decommissioning of the Litchfield very high frequency (VHF)
omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational
Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airports are
also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, November 3, 2022. 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 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.
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 Branch County Memorial Airport, Coldwater, MI, and
Kirsch Municipal Airport, Sturgis, MI, to support instrument flight
rule operations at these airports.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal
Register (87 FR 35689; June 13, 2022) for Docket No. FAA-2022-0758 to
amend the Class E airspace at Coldwater and Sturgis, MI. 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 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 FAA Order JO 7400.11.
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 service routes, and
reporting points.
The Rule
This amendment to 14 CFR part 71:
Amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above
the surface to within a 6.6-mile (decreased from an 8.1-mile) radius of
Branch County Memorial Airport, Coldwater, MI; removes the city
associated with the airport in the airspace legal description to comply
with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2N, Procedures for Handling Airspace
Matters; and updates the geographic
[[Page 52443]]
coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical
database;
And amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface to within a 6.5-mile (decreased from a 7-mile) radius
of Kirsch Municipal Airport, MI; adds an extension 2.5 miles each side
of the 052[deg] bearing from the Sturgis NDB extending from the 6.5-
mile radius of the airport to 7 miles northeast of the NDB; adds an
extension 2.5 miles each side of the 341[deg] bearing from the Sturgis
NDB extending from the 6.5-mile radius of the airport to 7 miles north
of the NDB; removes the city associated with the airport in the
airspace legal description to comply with changes to FAA Order JO
7400.2N; and updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.
This action is due to an airspace review conducted as part of the
decommissioning of the Litchfield VOR, which provided navigation
information for the instrument procedures at these airports, as part of
the VOR MON Program.
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, 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 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 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
AGL MI E5 Coldwater, MI [Amended]
Branch County Memorial Airport, MI
(Lat. 41[deg]56'01'' N, long. 85[deg]03'08'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.6-mile radius of Branch County Memorial Airport.
* * * * *
AGL MI E5 Sturgis, MI [Amended]
Kirsch Municipal Airport, MI
(Lat. 41[deg]48'48'' N, long. 85[deg]26'20'' W)
Sturgis NDB
(Lat. 41[deg]48'47'' N, long. 85[deg]26'02'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.5-mile radius of the Kirsch Municipal Airport; and within
2.5 miles each side of the 052[deg] bearing from the Sturgis NDB
extending from the 6.5-mile radius of the airport to 7 miles
northeast of the Sturgis NDB; and within 2.5 miles each side of the
341[deg] bearing from the Sturgis NDB extending from the 6.5-mile
radius of the airport to 7 miles north of the Sturgis NDB.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 22, 2022.
Martin A. Skinner,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-18342 Filed 8-25-22; 8:45 am]
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