[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 74 (Friday, April 18, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16460-16461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06605]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2737; Airspace Docket No. 24-ANM-115]
RIN 2120-AA66
Establishment of Class E Airspace at Pine Bluffs Municipal
Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from
700 feet above the surface at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine
Bluffs, WY, to support the airport's transition from visual flight
rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. This airspace
rule-making action enhances the safety and efficiency of IFR arrivals
and departures by providing controlled airspace for instrument
procedures.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, June 12, 2025. 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 each day, 365 days each year.
FAA Order JO 7400.11J, 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, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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 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 establishes Class E airspace to support IFR operations
at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA-2024-2737 in the Federal Register (90 FR 5671; January 17, 2025),
proposing to establish Class E airspace at Pine Bluffs Municipal
Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal to the FAA. Two comments were received, both of which were
in favor of the Class E airspace proposal.
Differences From the NPRM
Upon further evaluation, the FAA has determined that the existing
Denver En Route Domestic Class E airspace, which begins at 1,200 feet
above the surface, sufficiently supports the transitional Class E
airspace requirement needed for IFR operations at Pine Bluffs Municipal
Airport. As a result, the proposed second layer of Class E airspace
extending from 1,200 feet above the surface will not be established as
that portion of the airspace was already designated as Class E
airspace. Instead, this action establishes Class E airspace extending
upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth.
[[Page 16461]]
Additionally, the FAA has updated the Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport
legal description in its database after publication of the NPRM. To be
consistent with that updated legal description, the airport reference
point in this Final Rule is amended to read lat. 41[deg]09'09'' N,
long. 104[deg]08'05'' W. As this is a minor administrative change, it
is implemented in this action.
Incorporation by Reference
Class E5 airspace areas are 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
7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. These
amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO
7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11J is publicly available as listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this document.
FAA Order JO 7400.11J 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 establishing Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth at Pine
Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY, which is transitioning from
VFR to IFR operations due to the development of instrument procedures.
To support this effort, Class E airspace is established within a 7-
mile radius of the airport, within 2.1 miles either side of the
airport's 090[deg] bearing extending 9.5 mile east, and within 2.1
miles either side of the airport's 270[deg] bearing extending 12.2
miles west. This transitional Class E airspace supports IFR arrival and
departure procedures within controlled airspace.
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 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 qualifies for categorical
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5.a. This airspace action is not expected
to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant 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 FAA Order JO
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
ANM WY E5 Pine Bluffs, WY [New]
Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, WY
(lat. 41[deg]09'09'' N, long. 104[deg]08'05'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 7-mile radius of the airport, within 2.1 miles either side
of the airport's 090[deg] bearing extending 9.5 mile east, within
2.1 miles either side of the airport's 270[deg] bearing extending
12.2 miles west of Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, WY.
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on April 14, 2025.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-06605 Filed 4-17-25; 8:45 am]
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