[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70915-70917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22472]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1972; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-39]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Restricted Areas R-4201A and R-4201B; Camp 
Grayling, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the designated altitudes of 
restricted area R-4201B, Camp Grayling, MI, by raising the restricted 
area ceiling

[[Page 70916]]

from 9,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) to 23,000 feet MSL to match the 
ceiling of the adjacent restricted area R-4201A, Camp Grayling, MI. 
Additionally, this action proposes to make minor administrative changes 
to the R-4201B time of designation information and the R-4201A and R-
4201B using agency information to standardize the format of the 
information provided describing these restricted areas.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 27, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-1972 and 
Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-39 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Comments on environmental and land use aspects to should be 
directed to: Major Anthony E. Hylko, Alpena Environmental Manager, 
Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Alpena, MI, 49707; 
email: [email protected] or telephone: (989) 354-6212 (comm).
    FAA Order JO 7400.10E, Special Use Airspace, 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: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

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 
the 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 the restricted area airspace at Camp 
Grayling, MI, to enhance aviation safety and accommodate essential U.S. 
Army training requirements.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments 
are filed in writing.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light 
of the comments it receives.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    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, phone number, and hours of 
operations). An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the office of the Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Background

    The Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), located in 
Alpena, MI, is a regional hub for the Air National Guard (ANG) and 
hosts Department of Defense (DoD) Large Force Exercises (LFE) every 
year; serving as a deployed location. Activities within the Alpena CRTC 
airspace complex allow combat air forces to practice weapon attack 
mechanics, target acquisition, and reaction to simulated surface-to-air 
threats while coordinating with friendly ground elements.
    The Alpena Airspace Complex was originally created to support 
aircrew training during the buildup for World War II and has continued 
as a valuable training area for aircrews since. As the development of 
advanced 4th generation and current 5th generation fighter aircraft 
progressed, the airspace complex was not updated concurrently to take 
advantage of the full spectrum of training needs required to meet the 
changing tactics. In particular, the development of next generation 
fighters and weapons with advanced sensors and significantly greater 
standoff capabilities has created the requirement for additional 
hazardous activities maneuver airspace to set up for the employment of 
current weapons systems at the Grayling Range restricted areas. The DoD 
seeks to amend Military Operations Areas (MOA) and restricted areas in 
the Alpena Airspace Complex to address these changing needs. This 
proposed rule addresses the proposed changes to 14 CFR part 73 to amend 
the Grayling Range restricted areas.
    The DoD has already initiated proposed changes to the Alpena MOAs 
as a part of a separate action. At the request of the United States Air 
Force

[[Page 70917]]

(USAF), the FAA circulated a proposal to establish five new MOAs, 
modify the boundaries of three MOAs, and return one MOA to the National 
Airspace System (NAS).\1\ Mission profiles in the proposed Alpena MOA 
airspace included typical MOA flight operations conducting tactical 
combat maneuvering by attack and transport category fixed wing aircraft 
involving abrupt, unpredictable changes in altitude, attitude, and 
direction of flight. The FAA accepted comments on the proposed MOA 
amendments from June 16 to August 3, 2023. These amendments do not 
require the FAA to conduct rulemaking or amend 14 CFR part 73. 
Accordingly, the FAA will document the MOA amendments in a separate 
non-regulatory publication.
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    \1\ Airspace Study No. 23-AGL-361-NR circularized by the Central 
Service Center Operations Support Group on June 16, 2023, with a 
public comment period that ended August 3, 2023.
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    Collectively, the proposed changes to the MOAs and the proposed 
Grayling Range restricted area amendments would support DoD training 
scenarios designed to ensure air dominance of the airspace over the 
battlefield. Connecting the proposed Grayling Range R-4201A and R-4201B 
restricted areas with the proposed Alpena CRTC MOA airspace areas would 
enable the ANG to host and DoD to conduct training scenarios where 
fighter aircraft would fight their way into a target area, employ 
ordnance, and then egress from either low or high altitudes depending 
on the training threats confronted.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 by amending the 
Camp Grayling, MI, restricted areas R-4201A and R-4201B. This action 
would raise the ceiling of R-4201B from 9,000 feet MSL to 23,000 feet 
MSL to match the adjacent R-4201A ceiling, add a ``tie-in'' boundary 
point in the R-4201A boundaries description to ensure a shared R-4201A 
and R-4201B boundary, and make minor administrative changes to the 
existing R-4201B time of designation and the R-4201A and R-4201B using 
agency information.
    The proposed amendment to raise the R-4201B ceiling to 23,000 feet 
MSL would match the restricted area ceiling with the adjacent R-4201A 
ceiling and connect the eastern boundaries of the two restricted areas 
equally with two new MOAs proposed to be established as part of the 
previously published non-rulemaking proposal to amend the Alpena CRTC 
Airspace Complex. Further, the proposed R-4201B 23,000-foot MSL ceiling 
would accommodate additional hazardous activity maneuvering airspace, 
longer standoff distance capabilities for using advanced targeting pod 
non-eye-safe combat lasers, and extended munition release distances 
required in support of current USAF precision guided munitions tactics 
and training. The proposed amendment to increase the ceiling of R-4201B 
would also support United States Army requirements for high-angle 
artillery fires with high-arching trajectories.
    The proposed amendment to add an additional boundary point to the 
existing southern boundary of R-4201A would ensure a shared boundary 
with the northern boundary of R-4201B. The inclusion of the additional 
geographic coordinates located at latitude 44[deg]47'00'' N, longitude 
84[deg]38'00'' W in the R-4201A description matches the geographic 
coordinates of the northwest corner of R-4201B and would not change the 
boundaries alignment for either restricted area.
    The proposed administrative change to the existing R-4201B time of 
designation would not change when the restricted area is available to 
be scheduled. The proposed change would simply restate the existing 
times and days when the restricted area may be scheduled consistent 
with the FAA's special use airspace description format guidance. 
Additionally, administrative changes to the R-4201A and R-4201B using 
agency information would preface the existing using agency with ``U.S. 
Army.'' These administrative changes would not affect the scheduling, 
use, or activities conducted within the restricted areas.

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 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

    Airspace, Prohibited areas, Restricted areas.

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 73 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.  73.42  Michigan (MI) [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  73.42 to read as follows:

R-4201A Camp Grayling, MI [Amended]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 44[deg]56'00'' N, long. 
84[deg]29'00'' W; to lat. 44[deg]47'00'' N, long. 84[deg]29'00'' W; 
to lat. 44[deg]47'00'' N, long. 84[deg]38'00'' W; to lat. 
44[deg]47'00'' N, long. 84[deg]39'00'' W; to lat. 44[deg]56'00'' N, 
long. 84[deg]39'00'' W; to the point of beginning.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to 23,000 feet MSL.
    Time of designation. 0800-1600 local time, Tuesday-Saturday; 
other times by NOTAM.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Minneapolis ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commander, Camp Grayling, Grayling, MI.

R-4201B Camp Grayling, MI [Amended]

    Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 44[deg]47'00'' N, long. 
84[deg]29'00'' W; to lat. 44[deg]41'00'' N, long. 84[deg]29'00'' W; 
to lat. 44[deg]41'00'' N, long. 84[deg]40'00'' W; to lat. 
44[deg]43'00'' N, long. 84[deg]40'00'' W; to lat. 44[deg]43'00'' N, 
long. 84[deg]38'00'' W; to lat. 44[deg]47'00'' N, long. 
84[deg]38'00'' W; to the point of beginning.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to 23,000 feet MSL.
    Time of designation. 0000-2359 local time, Saturday-Sunday; 
other times by NOTAM.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Minneapolis ARTCC.
    Using agency. U.S. Army, Commander, Camp Grayling, Grayling, MI.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 5, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Policy and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-22472 Filed 10-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P