[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60558-60559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16383]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1235; Airspace Docket No. 24-ASO-13]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Thomaston, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface for Thomaston-Upson County Airport, Thomaston, 
GA, as the YATES Non-directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned 
and associated instrument approaches canceled. Controlled airspace is 
necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules 
(IFR) operations at this airport.

DATES: Effective 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 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 a day, 365 days a year.

[[Page 60559]]

    FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations, and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; telephone: (404) 305-6364.

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 Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface for Thomaston-Upson County Airport, Thomaston, GA.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2024-1235 in the Federal Register (89 FR 42399; May 15, 2024), 
proposing to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface for Thomaston-Upson County Airport, Thomaston, GA. 
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 is published in paragraph 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 
7400.11H, 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 amendment to 14 CFR part 71 amends Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface within an 8.1-mile radius 
(increased from a 6.5-mile radius) of Thomaston-Upson County Airport, 
Thomaston, GA, and within 3.7 miles on each side of the 118[deg] 
bearing of the airport, extending from the 8.1-mile radius to 9.8 miles 
southeast of the airport. An airspace evaluation caused this action due 
to the decommissioning of the YATES NDB. This action also updates the 
airport's geographic coordinates to coincide with the FAA's database. 
Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of 
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

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 
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

    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 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant the preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

Lists 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 Federal Aviation 
Administration Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is 
amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ASO GA E5 Thomaston, GA [Amended]

Thomaston-Upson County Airport, GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]57'18'' N, long. 84[deg]15'51'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8.1-mile radius of the Thomaston-Upson County Airport and 
3.7 miles on each side of the 118[deg] bearing from the airport, 
extending from the 8.1-mile radius to 9.8 miles southeast of the 
airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on July 17, 2024.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2024-16383 Filed 7-25-24; 8:45 am]
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