[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14047-14048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04587]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 44 / Tuesday, March 7, 2023 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 14047]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1448; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-58]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Hanford Municipal Airport, CA

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface at Hanford Municipal Airport CA. It 
adds a radius to the Class E airspace, removes an extension to the east 
of the airport, and modifies the extensions to the southeast and 
northwest of the airport. These actions will support the safety and 
management of instrument flight rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, June 15, 2023. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference under Title 1 CFR 
part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and publication of 
conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order JO 7400.11G, and subsequent amendments can be 
viewed online atwww.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: Keith Adams, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2428.

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 modifies the Class E airspace at Hanford Municipal Airport, CA, 
to support IFR operations at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the 
Federal Register for FAA-2022-1448 (87 FR 77043; December 16, 2022) to 
modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Hanford Municipal Airport, CA. It proposed to add a 2.8-mile 
circular radius of the airport to properly contain circling maneuvers. 
This action also proposed to remove an airspace extension to the 
northeast of the airport as it is no longer needed due to the 
decommissioning of the Visalia very high frequency omnidirectional 
range/distance measuring equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID) 
and its associated instrument approach procedure. Additionally, this 
action proposed a modification to the extensions southeast and 
northwest of the airport to more adequately contain arriving IFR 
operations below 1,500 feet above the surface on the Area Navigation 
(RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 32 and RNAV (GPS)-B 
RWY 32 approaches and departing IFR operations until they reach 1,200 
feet above the surface at the airport. Interested parties were invited 
to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments 
on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

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.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by modifying the Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hanford 
Municipal Airport, CA. A 2.8-mile radius of the airport is established 
to properly contain circling maneuvers at the airport. The extension to 
the northeast of the airport is removed due to the decommissioning of 
the VIS VOR NAVAID and its associated IFR arrival procedure. The 
extension to the southeast of the airport is realigned from the 
152[deg] bearing to the 142[deg] bearing from the airport. It is 
narrowed to 2.4 miles either side of the 142[deg] bearing from the 
airport and is also lengthened to 7 miles southeast of the airport. The 
extension to the northwest of the airport is realigned from the 
332[deg] bearing to the 345[deg] bearing. It is narrowed to 2.4 miles 
either side of the 345[deg] bearing from the airport and lengthened to 
7 miles northwest of the airport.
    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.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11 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

[[Page 14048]]

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

    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 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to cause any 
potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary 
circumstances exist that warrant the preparation of an environmental 
assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, incorporation by reference, navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the FAA 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 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 part 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.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Hanford, CA [Amended]

Hanford Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 36[deg]19'00'' N, long. 119[deg]37'40'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 2.8-mile radius of the airport, and within 2.4 miles each 
side of the 142[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 
2.8-mile radius to 7 miles southeast of the airport, and within 2.4 
miles each side of the 345[deg] bearing from the airport extending 
from the 2.8-mile radius to 7 miles north of the airport.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on February 27, 2023.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2023-04587 Filed 3-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P