[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 227 (Monday, November 28, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72871-72873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25817]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1004; Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-16]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Liberal, KS

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace at Liberal, KS. This 
action is the result of an airspace review conducted as part of the 
decommissioning of the Liberal very high frequency (VHF) 
omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational 
Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the 
airport and the name of the navigational aid are also being updated to 
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, February 23, 2023. 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 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can

[[Page 72872]]

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 surface airspace, and the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Liberal Mid-America 
Regional Airport, Liberal, KS, to support instrument flight rule 
operations at this airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the 
Federal Register (87 FR 51620; August 23, 2022) for Docket No. FAA-
2022-1004 to amend the Class E airspace at Liberal, KS. 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 paragraphs 6002 and 
6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, 
and effective September 15, 2022, 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 7400.11G, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 
15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class 
A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Differences From the NPRM

    Subsequent to publication, it was discovered that the name of the 
airport was not updated in the Class E airspace area designated as a 
surface area airspace legal description. That error has been corrected 
in this action.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71:
    Amends the Class E surface airspace at Liberal Mid-America Regional 
Airport, Liberal, KS, by removing the Liberal VORTAC and associated 
extensions from the airspace legal description; updates the name 
(previously Liberal Municipal Airport) and geographic coordinates of 
the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and 
updates the outdated terms ``Notice to Airmen'' with ``Notice to Air 
Missions'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart 
Supplement'';
    And amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface within a 6.7-mile (increased form a 6.4-mile) radius 
of Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport; removes the Liberal VORTAC and 
associated extensions from the airspace legal description; updates the 
extension south of the airport to 3.9 (increased from 3) miles each 
side of the 180[deg] bearing from the Liberal Mid-America Regional: RWY 
35-LOC (previously ILS localizer course) extending from the 6.7-mile 
(increased from 6.4-mile) radius of the airport to 11.9 (decreased from 
12) miles south of the airport; and updates the name (previously 
Liberal Municipal Airport) and geographic coordinates of the airport 
and the name of the Liberal Mid-America Regional: RWY 35-LOC 
(previously Liberal Municipal Airport ILS) to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database.
    This action is due to an airspace review conducted as part of the 
decommissioning of the Liberal VOR, which provided navigation 
information for the instrument procedures this airport, 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.


71.1   [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas

* * * * *

ACE KS E2 Liberal, KS [Amended]

Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport, KS

[[Page 72873]]

    (Lat. 37[deg]02'38'' N, long. 100[deg]57'36'' W)
    Within a 4.2-mile radius of Liberal Mid-America Regional 
Airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific 
dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. 
The effective dates and times will thereafter be continuously 
published in the Chart Supplement.

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

* * * * *

ACE KS E5 Liberal, KS [Amended]

Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport, KS
    (Lat. 37[deg]02'38'' N, long. 100[deg]57'36'' W)
Liberal Mid-America Regional: RWY 35-LOC
    (Lat. 37[deg]03'27'' N, long. 100[deg]57'23'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport; 
and within 3.9 miles each side of the 180[deg] bearing from the 
Liberal Mid-America Regional: RWY 35-LOC extending from the 6.7-mile 
radius of the airport to 11.9 miles south of the airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 22, 2022.
Steven T. Phillips,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-25817 Filed 11-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P