[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77541-77542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27341]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1562; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANM-46]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Modification of Class E Airspace; Torrington Municipal 
Airport, Torrington, WY

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Torrington Municipal Airport, 
WY. This proposal would remove a northwest extension and a procedure 
turn airspace area to the east, add a southeast extension, and reduce 
the Class E airspace encircling the airport. This action will ensure 
the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations 
at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 2, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. DOT, Docket 
Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: (800) 647-5527 or (202) 366-
9826. You must identify ``FAA Docket No. FAA-2022-1562; Airspace Docket 
No. 21-ANM-46,'' at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit 
comments through the internet at www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, 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: Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S. 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3460.

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 would modify Class E airspace at Torrington Municipal Airport, 
WY, to support IFR operations at the airport.

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

[[Page 77542]]

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 and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Persons wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2022-1562; 
Airspace Docket No. 21-ANM-46.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of the 
comments received. A report summarizing each substantive public contact 
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
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 the ADDRESSES section for the address and 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 Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S. 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 
98198.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order JO 7400.11G, 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.

The Proposal

    This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace beginning at 
700 feet above the surface at Torrington Municipal Airport. The current 
Class E airspace encircling the airport with a 7.7-mile radius is 
excessive. The Class E airspace encircling the airport should be 
reduced to a 7.5-mile radius, which will more appropriately contain 
departing IFR operations until they reach 1,200 feet above the surface.
    The existing Class E airspace beginning at 700 feet above the 
surface contains an area east of the airport intended for procedure 
turn maneuvers that is no longer needed and should be removed. Class E 
airspace beginning at 700 feet above the surface is designed to 
accommodate arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet above the surface. 
No terrain penetrates to within 1,500 feet of arriving aircraft 
conducting a procedure turn, and the procedure is fully contained in 
the existing Denver Class E domestic en route airspace.
    The Class E airspace beginning at 700 feet above the ground 
southeast of the airport needs an extension 1.4 miles either side of 
the 116[deg] bearing from the airport, extending 9.6 miles southeast of 
the airport to accommodate arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet 
above the surface.
    The existing northwest extension to the Class E airspace beginning 
at 700 feet above the ground should be removed as it is no longer 
needed. The proposed 7.5-mile radius Class E airspace encircling the 
airport more appropriately contains arrival IFR operations from the 
northwest.
    The Class E5 airspace designation is published in paragraph 6005 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 designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11, which is published annually and 
becomes 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 will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this rule--when promulgated--would 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 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal 
Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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 14 CFR 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 
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ANM WY E5 Torrington, WY [Amended]

Torrington Municipal Airport, WY
    (Lat. 42[deg]03'52'' N, long. 104[deg]09'10'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.5-mile radius of the airport, and that airspace 1.4 miles 
each side of the 116[deg] bearing extending from the 7.5-mile radius 
to 9.6 miles southeast of the airport.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 9, 2022.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-27341 Filed 12-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P