[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2520-2522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00642]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2482; Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-26]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class E Airspace; Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, 
Galena, AK

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 and modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK. 
Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update 
the airport's geographic coordinates in the legal description to match 
the FAA database. 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 March 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-2482 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-26 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: Keith T. 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

[[Page 2521]]

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 Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK.

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 office 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

    The Class E2 and E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraphs 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 and modify the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at 
Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK.
    The Class E airspace designated as a surface area of a 4.2-mile 
radius around the airport, should be appropriately sized to 4.1-mile 
radius. This reduction in airspace would more efficiently contains IFR 
departures until reaching 700 feet above the surface or the next 
adjacent controlled airspace.
    The Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface should be modified to contain IFR aircrafts executing IFR 
arrival procedures descending through 1,500 feet above the surface. The 
Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Runway (RWY) 26 and 
Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) RWY 8 final 
approach bearings currently are not aligned and not contained within 
the existing Class E airspace area extensions. The airspace proposal 
would adjust both Class E airspace extensions, to contain IFR arrivals 
descending below 1,500 feet above the surface. The RNAV (GPS) RWY 8 
would be contained with a western extension from the airport's 269[deg] 
bearing, with a width of 2.1 nautical miles (NM) on either side of 
centerline and extend westward 12.2 NM. The required airspace extension 
to contain the VOR RWY 26 would extend from the airports 086[deg] 
bearing, with a width of 4.8 NM on either side of centerline and extend 
eastward 20.2 NM. The VOR RWY 26 final approach fix is located within 
1,500 feet of the highest terrain. The terrain's proximity requires 
containment of the approach's hold-in-lieu primary area by the 
airport's Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface.
    The additional airspace required to contain the VOR RWY 26 hold-in-
lieu primary area would also contain IFR departures until the aircraft 
reaches 1,200 feet above the surface; therefore, the existing inner 
circumference of the Class E airspace area extending from 700 feet 
above the surface would be reduced from a 7.2-mile radius to a 6.6-mile 
radius.
    Finally, the FAA proposes an administrative action to the airport's 
legal description. The airport's geographic coordinates on line 3 of 
both legal descriptions should be updated to match the FAA's database.

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).

[[Page 2522]]

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 Area Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Galena, AK [Amended]

Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, AK
    (Lat. 64[deg]44'10'' N, long. 156[deg]56'4'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-
mile radius of the airport.
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Galena, AK [Amended]

Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, AK
    (Lat. 64[deg]44'10'' N, long. 156[deg]56'4'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of the airport, within 4.8 miles of each 
side of the airport's 086[deg] bearing extending to 20.2 miles east 
of the airport, and within 2.1 miles each side of the airport's 
269[deg] bearing extending to 12.2 miles west of the airport; that 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 
73-mile radius of the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, January 9, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-00642 Filed 1-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P