[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48271-48272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12151]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1457; Airspace Docket No. 24-AWA-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class C Airspace Description; Manchester Boston 
Regional Airport, NH

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This action amends the Manchester Boston Regional Airport 
(MHT), NH, Class C airspace area description by making editorial 
changes to the northern shelf boundary of the Class C airspace from 
using the Manchester, NH (MHT), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional 
Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) to use the Manchester 
Boston Regional Airport, Airport Reference Point (ARP). Additionally, 
this action makes minor editorial amendments to the airspace 
description header to follow current formatting guidelines. These 
changes are editorial only and do not alter the current boundaries, 
altitudes, Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures, or operating 
requirements for the Manchester Boston Regional Airport Class C 
airspace.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, September 5, 2024. 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 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 7400.11H, 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: Brian Vidis, 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 modifies the National Airspace System as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

History

    The Manchester, NH (MHT), VOR/DME is one of the candidate VORs 
identified for discontinuance by the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational 
Network (MON) program and listed in the final policy statement notice, 
``Provision of Navigation Services for the Next Generation Air 
Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to Performance-Based 
Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum Operational 
Network),'' published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 
48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. The FAA is planning to decommission 
only the VOR portion of the Manchester VOR/DME in September 2024.
    The Manchester Regional Boston Airport, NH, Class C airspace area 
description uses the Manchester VOR/DME to describe the northern shelf 
boundary of the Class C airspace. To retain the accuracy of the 
Manchester Regional Boston Airport Class C airspace area, the FAA is 
removing reference to the Manchester VOR/DME in the northern shelf 
description and replace it with bearings and distances from the 
Manchester Boston Regional Airport, ARP.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class C airspace designations are published in paragraph 4000 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 
7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. FAA 
Order JO 7400.11H 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 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by making editorial changes to 
the Manchester Regional Boston Airport, NH, Class C airspace 
description. This action removes references to the Manchester VOR/DME 
in northern shelf boundary of the Class C airspace and replaces it with 
bearings and distances from the Manchester Boston Regional Airport, 
ARP. The Class C airspace boundaries affected by the Manchester VOR/DME 
will remain unchanged and unaffected by replacing the Manchester VOR/
DME references with bearings and distances from the Manchester Boston 
Regional Airport, ARP.
    Additionally, in the description of the ARP for the Boire Field 
Airport, NH, the city name is removed from the fourth line in the text 
header leaving just the airport name and state which align with the 
current formatting standard.
    Since this action merely involves minor editorial amendments in the 
Manchester, NH, Class C airspace area description and does not change 
the charted boundaries, altitudes, ATC procedures, or operating 
requirements for the Class C airspace area, notice and public procedure 
under 5 U.S.C. Sec.  553(b) are unnecessary and contrary to the public 
interest.

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

[[Page 48272]]

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 amending the Manchester 
Regional Boston Airport, NH, Class C airspace description, qualifies 
for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR 
part 1500, and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental 
Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically 
excludes from further environmental impact review rulemaking actions 
that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, 
and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, 
D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting 
Points). As such, this action is not expected to result in any 
potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA 
Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, the 
FAA has reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a 
normally categorically excluded action may have a significant 
environmental impact requiring further analysis. Accordingly, the FAA 
has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant 
preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
study.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, signed August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 4000 Class C Airspace.

* * * * *

ANE NH C Manchester, NH

Manchester Boston Regional Airport, NH (Primary Airport)
    (Lat. 42[deg]55'58'' N, long. 71[deg]26'09'' W)
Boire Field Airport, NH
    (Lat. 42[deg]46'57'' N, long. 71[deg]30'51'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
4,300 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of the Manchester Boston 
Regional Airport; including that airspace extending upward from 
2,500 feet MSL to and including 4,300 feet MSL within a 10-mile 
radius of the airport; including that airspace from 1,500 feet MSL 
between a 5-mile radius and 10-mile radius south of the airport from 
Interstate 93 clockwise to the eastern edge of the 5-mile radius of 
Boire Field Airport; including that airspace from 2,000 feet MSL 
between a 5-mile radius and 10-mile radius north of the airport from 
a line formed by a point at the 307[deg] bearing from the airport at 
5 miles direct to a point at the 311[deg] bearing from the airport 
at 10 miles clockwise to Interstate 93.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 29, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-12151 Filed 6-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P