[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23612-23613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10102]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2529; Airspace Docket No. 24-ASW-14]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Mineral Wells, TX
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace at Mineral Wells, TX.
This action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the
decommissioning of the Mineral Wells non directional beacon (NDB). This
action also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport and the
Millsap Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VORTAC). The name of
the airport will also be updated to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautical database. This action brings the airspace into compliance
with FAA orders and supports instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures
and operations.
DATES: Effective 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 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, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Shelby, Federal Aviation
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5857.
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 the Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Mineral Wells
Regional Airport, Mineral Wells, TX, to support instrument flight rule
operations at this airport.
History
The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2024-2529 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 11498; March 7, 2025) proposing to amend the
Class E airspace at Mineral Wells, TX. Interested parties were invited
to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments
on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.
[[Page 23613]]
Differences From the NPRM
In the NPRM for this action, the FAA had proposed to replace the
term Notice to Airmen with Notice to Air Missions in the Class E
description. However, since that time, Executive Order 14172, Restoring
Names that Honor American Greatness, was issued, which mandates a
return to the term ``Notice to Airmen''. As such, that aspect of the
proposal from the NPRM is now rescinded.
Incorporation by Reference
Class E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 6002 and
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, which lists Class A, B, C, D,
and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points,
is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
document.
The Rule
This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 modifies the Class E surface
airspace to within a 4.3 mile (increase from a 4.0-mile) radius of
Mineral Wells Regional Airport, Mineral Wells, TX; removing the Mineral
Wells NDB and associated extensions from the airspace legal
description; and updating the name of the airport (previously Mineral
Wells Airport) to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and
replacing the outdated terms and ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with
``Chart Supplement''.
This action also modifies the Class E surface airspace at Mineral
Wells Regional Airport by updating the name of the airport (previously
Mineral Wells Airport) to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical
database.
This action also amends the Class E airspace extending upward from
700 feet above the surface to within a 6.8 mile-radius (increased from
6.5 mile) radius of the airport removes the Mineral Wells NDB and
associated extensions from the airspace legal description as it is no
longer required; adds an extension 2.5 miles each side of the 138[deg]
bearing from the Millsap VORTAC extending from the 6.8-mile radius to
7.0 miles southeast from the Millsap VORTAC and updates the geographic
coordinates of the airport and VORTAC to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautical database.
This action is the result of an airspace review conducted as part
of the decommissioning of the Mineral Wells NDB and supports IFR
operations at this airport.
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 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.
* * * * *
ASW TX E2 Mineral Wells, TX [Amended]
Mineral Wells Regional Airport, TX
(Lat 32[deg]46'54'' N, long 98[deg]03'37'' W)
Within a 4.3-mile radius of Mineral Wells Regional Airport. This
Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and
times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective
dates and times will thereafter be continuously published in the
Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
ASW TX E5 Mineral Wells, TX [Amended]
Mineral Wells Regional Airport, TX
(Lat 32[deg]46'54'' N, long 98[deg]03'37'' W)
Millsap VORTAC
(Lat 32[deg]43'34'' N, long 97[deg]59'51'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.8-mile radius of Mineral Wells Regional Airport; and
within 2.5 miles each side of the 316[deg] bearing from the Millsap
VORTAC extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 7.0 miles southeast
from the Millsap VORTAC.
* * * * *
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 29, 2025.
Dallas W. Lantz,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-10102 Filed 6-3-25; 8:45 am]
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