[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21094-21095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07210]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0034; Airspace Docket No. 23-AGL-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Watertown, SD

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace at Watertown, SD. This 
action is due to an airspace review conducted as part of the 
decommissioning of the Watertown very high frequency omnidirectional 
range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. 
The name and geographic coordinates of the airport are also being 
updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, June 15, 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: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, 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 Watertown Regional 
Airport, Watertown, SD, to support instrument flight rule operations at 
this airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2023-0034 in the Federal Register (88 FR 3932; January 23, 2023) 
amending the Class E airspace at Watertown, SD. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 6002 and 
6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual 
basis. This document amends the current version of that order, 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. These amendments will be published 
in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G 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:
    Modifies the Class E surface airspace at Watertown Regional 
Airport, Watertown, SD, by updating the name (previously Watertown 
Municipal Airport) and geographic coordinates of the airport to 
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;
    And modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Watertown Regional Airport by removing the 
Watertown VOR/tactical air navigation (VORTAC) and the associated 
extension to the north of the airport; removing the extension south of 
the airport as it is no

[[Page 21095]]

longer required; removing the airspace extending 1,200 feet above the 
surface from the airspace legal description as it is redundant with the 
airspace extending 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of South 
Dakota and State of Minnesota; and updating the name (previously 
Watertown Municipal Airport) and geographic coordinates of the airport 
to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

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. 
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).

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 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 6002 Class E Airspace Area Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AGL SD E2 Watertown, SD [Amended]

Watertown Regional Airport, SD
    (Lat. 44[deg]54'50'' N, long. 97[deg]09'17'' W)

    Within a 4.3-mile radius of Watertown Regional Airport.

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

* * * * *

AGL SD E5 Watertown, SD [Amended]

Watertown Regional Airport, SD
    (Lat. 44[deg]54'50'' N, long. 97[deg]09'17'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8-mile radius of Watertown Regional Airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 3, 2023.
Martin A. Skinner,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2023-07210 Filed 4-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P