[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11833-11835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03585]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0099; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANE-12]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Class E Airspace; Ellsworth, Augusta, and 
Waterville, ME

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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[[Page 11834]]

SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface for Maine Coast Memorial 
Heliport, Ellsworth, Maine; Maine General Medical Center/Augusta 
Heliport, Augusta, Maine; Maine General Medical Center-Waterville 
Heliport, Waterville, Maine, as instrument approach procedures have 
been designed for each heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for 
the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations 
in the area.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 10, 2023.

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; Telephone: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify Docket No. FAA-
2023-0099; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANE-12 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, contact the Rules 
and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; Telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, 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 would establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface for Maine Coast Memorial Heliport, Ellsworth, Maine, 
and Maine General Medical Center/Augusta Heliport, Augusta, Maine, and 
Maine General Medical Center-Waterville Heliport, Waterville, Maine, to 
support IFR operations in the area. Controlled airspace is necessary 
for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) 
operations in the area.

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 a 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 (Docket No. FAA-
2023-0099; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANE-12) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
the address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
internet at 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-2023-0099; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANE-12.'' The postcard 
will be dated/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 document may be changed in light of the 
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 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 ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined between 8:00 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays at the office 
of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 
350, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11, This document proposes to amend FAA Order JO 
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This 
document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order 
JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022. 
These updates would be published subsequently in the next update to FAA 
Order JO 7400.11. 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

    The FAA proposes an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to establish Class 
E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Maine 
Coast Memorial Heliport, Ellsworth, Maine; Maine General Medical 
Center/Augusta Heliport, Augusta, Maine; and Maine General Medical 
Center-Waterville Heliport, Waterville, Maine, as instrument approach 
procedures have been designed for each heliport. Controlled airspace is 
necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules 
(IFR) operations in the area.

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 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

[[Page 11835]]

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.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, 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 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 Federal Aviation 
Administration 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.

* * * * *

ANE ME E5 Ellsworth, ME [Established]

Maine Coast Memorial Heliport, ME
    (Lat. 44[deg]32'48'' N, long. 68[deg]25'03'' W)
Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 44[deg]33'09'' N; long. 68[deg]25'17'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.0-mile radius of the point in space coordinates for Maine 
Coast Memorial Heliport.

ANE ME E5 Augusta, ME [Established]

Maine General Medical Center/Augusta Heliport, ME
    (Lat. 44[deg]21'43'' N, long. 69[deg]46'47'' W)
Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 44[deg]21'44'' N; long. 69[deg]47'35'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.0-mile radius of the point in space coordinates for Maine 
General Medical Center/Augusta Heliport.

ANE ME E5 Waterville, ME [Established]

Maine General Medical Center-Waterville Heliport, ME
    (Lat. 44[deg]33'58'' N, long. 69[deg]38'52'' W)
Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 44[deg]33'23'' N; long. 69[deg]38'30'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.0-mile radius of the point in space coordinates for Maine 
General Medical Center-Waterville Heliport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on February 15, 2023.
Lisa Burrows,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2023-03585 Filed 2-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P