[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 112 (Thursday, June 12, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24740-24742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10673]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0606; Airspace Docket No. 25-AEA-6]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Hagerstown, MD
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from
700 feet above the surface designated for Hagerstown, MD, by updating
the reference to the St. Thomas Very High Frequency Omnidirectional
Range Station and Tactical Air Navigation System (VORTAC) to show it as
the St. Thomas Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN). This action
supports the safety and management of instrument flight rule (IFR)
operations in the area.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, October 2, 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
[[Page 24741]]
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. 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,
as well as subsequent amendments, can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, 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: Marc Ellerbee, Operations Support
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone: (404) 305-5589.
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 in Hagerstown, MD.
History
The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2025-0606 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 15533; April 14, 2025), proposing to amend
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at
Hagerstown Regional-Richard A. Henson Field, Hagerstown, MD. 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 designations 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, 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 action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending the Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hagerstown, MD. The
VOR portion of the St. Thomas VORTAC was decommissioned on November 30,
2023, and only the TACAN remains as a functional part of the NAVAID.
This action changes the associated references in the airspace legal
description from St. Thomas VORTAC to St. Thomas TACAN. 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 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.
* * * * *
AEA MD E5 Hagerstown, MD [Amended]
Hagerstown Regional Airport-Richard A. Henson Field, MD
(Lat. 39[deg]42'31'' N, long. 77[deg]43'35'' W)
Hagerstown VOR
(Lat. 39[deg]41'52'' N, long. 77[deg]51'21'' W)
St. Thomas TACAN
(Lat. 39[deg]56'00'' N, long. 77[deg]57'03'' W)
Hagerstown Regional Airport-Richard A. Henson Field ILS Runway 27
Localizer
(Lat. 39[deg]42'23'' N, long. 77[deg]44'31'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.6-mile radius of the Hagerstown Regional Airport-Richard
A. Henson Field, and within 3.1 miles each side of the Hagerstown
VOR 237[deg] radial and 057[deg] radial extending from 9.6 miles
southwest of the VOR to 2.7 miles northeast of the VOR, and within
4.4 miles each side of the Hagerstown Regional Airport-Richard A.
Henson Field ILS Runway 27 localizer course extending from the
localizer to 12.6 miles east of the localizer, and within 4.4 miles
each side of the St. Thomas TACAN 141[deg] radial extending from the
6.6-mile radius to the St. Thomas TACAN, excluding that portion
within Prohibited Area P-40.
* * * * *
[[Page 24742]]
Issued in College Park, Georgia, on June 5, 2025.
Patrick Young,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2025-10673 Filed 6-11-25; 8:45 am]
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