[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 88546-88548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28227]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1758; Airspace Docket No. 23-AWP-44]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class E Airspace; Mammoth Lakes Airport, Mammoth 
Lakes, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated 
as a surface area, modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface, and remove the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Mammoth Lakes Airport, 
Mammoth Lakes, CA. Additionally, this action proposes administrative 
amendments to update the airport's existing Class E

[[Page 88547]]

airspace legal descriptions. These actions would support the safety and 
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-1758 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-AWP-44 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.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H, 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 Drasin, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2248.

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 Class E airspace to support IFR operations 
at Mammoth Lakes Airport, Mammoth Lakes, CA.

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. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion 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 
Operations 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 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.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E2 and E5 airspace designations are published in paragraph 
6002 and 6005 respectively, 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 proposes to amend the 
current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023. These updates would be 
published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is 
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would 
modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area, modify the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and 
remove Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the 
surface at Mammoth Lakes Airport, Mammoth Lakes, CA.
    The Class E surface area extension east of the airport centered on 
the 099[deg] bearing should be recentered on the airport's 096[deg] 
bearing instead. Additionally, the width should be reduced from 1.8 
miles to 1 mile either side of the bearing, and the extension length 
should be reduced from 5.6 miles to 4.6 miles east of the airport. This 
would better contain arriving IFR operations between the surface and 
1,000 feet above the surface while executing the Area Navigation (RNAV) 
(Global Positioning System [GPS]) Runway (RWY) 27 approach.
    The existing Class E airspace extending from 700 feet above the 
surface should be extended eastward to include that airspace within 2.6 
miles either side of the airport's 091[deg] bearing extending from the 
6.6-mile radius to 13.1 miles east of the airport. This would contain 
arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet above the surface while 
executing the RNAV (GPS) RWY 27 approach.
    The existing Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet 
above

[[Page 88548]]

the surface should be removed, as the area is already within the 
Coaldale Class E en route domestic airspace area.
    Finally, the FAA proposes administrative modifications to the 
airport's legal descriptions. The text header of both legal 
descriptions should be changed to match the new airport name, Mammoth 
Yosemite Airport. The geographic coordinates located in the text header 
of both legal descriptions should be updated to match the FAA's 
database. The text of the Class E airspace extending upward from the 
surface should be updated to show the new airport name and replace the 
outdated use of the phrases ``Notice to Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility 
Directory.'' These phrases should be amended to read ``Notice to Air 
Missions'' and ``Chart Supplement,'' respectively, to align with the 
FAA's current nomenclature. The text of the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface should be updated to show the 
new airport name.

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 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 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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AWP CA E2 Mammoth Lakes, CA [Amended]

Mammoth Yosemite Airport, CA
    (Lat. 37[deg]37'27'' N, long. 118[deg]50'20'' W)

    That airspace within a 4.1-mile radius of the airport and within 
1 mile either side of the 096[deg] bearing from the airport, 
extending from the 4.1-mile radius to 4.6 miles east of the airport. 
This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates 
and times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. The 
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in 
the Chart Supplement.

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Mammoth Lakes, CA [Amended]

Mammoth Yosemite Airport, CA
    (Lat. 37[deg]37'27'' N, long. 118[deg]50'20'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of the airport and within 2.6 miles either 
side of the airport's 091[deg] bearing, extending from the 6.6-mile 
radius to 13.1 miles east.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 18, 2023.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2023-28227 Filed 12-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P