[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20382-20383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08379]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0956; Airspace Docket No. 25-AWA-2]
RIN 2120-AA66
Renaming of Gulf of Mexico High and Gulf of Mexico Low Offshore
Airspace Areas
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action is an administrative change to rename the Gulf of
Mexico High and Gulf of Mexico Low offshore airspace areas. The FAA is
taking this action to implement the Gulf of Mexico name changes
directed in Executive Order (E.O.) 14172, Restoring Names That Honor
American Greatness, published January 20, 2025. This action does not
change the airspace boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, August 7, 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 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. An electronic
copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office of the
Federal Register's website at www.federalregister.gov.
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: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations
Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 600
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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 updates the name of the Gulf of Mexico High and Gulf of
Mexico Low offshore airspace areas in accordance with E.O. 14172,
Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.
History
On January 20, 2025, the President of the United States signed E.O.
14172, Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness, directing that
appropriate actions be taken to rename the area formerly known as the
``Gulf of Mexico'' to ``Gulf of America.'' Consequently, this
rulemaking action implements the requisite changes to part 71 by
removing the ``Gulf of Mexico'' name and replacing it with ``Gulf of
America.''
Incorporation by Reference
Offshore Airspace Areas are listed in paragraph 2003 (Class A
airspace areas) and paragraph 6007 (Class E airspace areas) 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
[[Page 20383]]
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 renaming the offshore airspace
area ``Gulf of Mexico High'' as the ``Gulf of America High'' and the
``Gulf of Mexico Low'' as the ``Gulf of America Low.'' The FAA is
taking this action in support of E.O. 14172 that was published January
20, 2025.
Good Cause for Bypassing Notice and Comment
The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) authorizes agencies to
dispense with ordinary notice and comment requirements for rules when
the agency for ``good cause'' finds that those procedures are
``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B). This action is an administrative change only and does
not affect the boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements within
the airspace areas. This amendment will not impose any additional
substantive restrictions or requirements on the persons affected by
these regulations. Therefore, the FAA has determined that notice and
public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) is unnecessary.
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 of making administrative
name changes to the Gulf of Mexico High and Gulf of Mexico Low offshore
airspace areas, which do not alter the boundaries, altitudes, or time
of designation, qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) 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); and paragraph 5-6.5k
which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review
the publication of existing air traffic control procedures that do not
essentially change existing tracks, create new tracks, change altitude,
or change concentration of aircraft on these tracks.. 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. The
FAA has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that
warrant preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental
impact study.
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 2003 Offshore Airspace Areas.
* * * * *
Gulf of America High [Amended]
That airspace extending upward from FL 280 to and including FL
600 bounded on the west, north, and east by a line 12 miles offshore
and parallel to the Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and
Florida shorelines; bounded on the south from east to west by the
southern boundary of the Jacksonville ARTCC, Miami Oceanic CTA/FIR;
Merida UTA/UIR, Houston CTA/FIR; Monterrey UTA/UIR, Houston CTA/FIR;
to the point of beginning, and that airspace extending upward from
18,000 feet MSL to and including FL 280 bounded on the west, north,
and east by a line 12 miles offshore and parallel to the Texas,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida shorelines bounded on
the south from east to west by the southern boundary of the
Jacksonville ARTCC, Miami Oceanic CTA/FIR, Houston CTA/FIR and lat.
26[deg]00'00'' N.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6007 Offshore Airspace Areas.
* * * * *
Gulf of America Low [Amended]
That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet MSL bounded on
the west, north, and east by a line 12 miles offshore and parallel
to the Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida
shorelines; bounded on the south from east to west by the southern
boundary of the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center, Miami
Oceanic CTA/FIR; Merida UTA/UIR, Houston CTA/FIR; Monterrey UTA/UIR,
Houston CTA/FIR; to the point of beginning.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-08379 Filed 5-13-25; 8:45 am]
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