[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 126 (Thursday, July 3, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29420-29421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12430]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0183; Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-66]
RIN 2120-AA66
Modification of Class E Airspace; Petersburg James A. Johnson
Airport, Petersburg, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward
from 700 feet above the surface at Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport;
removes redundant Class E airspace; and makes administrative updates to
the airport's legal description. This action supports the safety and
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.
DATES: Effective date 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 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. An electronic
copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office of the
Federal Register's website atwww.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: Jeffrey Drasin, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2248.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is
found in
[[Page 29421]]
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 modifies the Class E airspace and updates the airport's legal
description to support IFR operations at Petersburg James A. Johnson
Airport, Petersburg, AK.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA 2025-0183 in the Federal Register (90 FR 14223; March 31, 2025),
proposing to modify the Class E airspace Petersburg James A. Johnson
Airport, Petersburg, AK. Interested parties were invited to participate
in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the
proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.
Differences From the NPRM
Subsequent to the publication of the NPRM, the FAA identified that
the word ``from'' was inadvertently omitted from the end of the Class E
airspace legal description regarding the northern airspace extension.
Accordingly, this action corrects the text to read ``extending from 1.7
miles''. This is a ministerial change that does not alter the airspace
boundaries or operating requirements. Therefore, the FAA has determined
that good cause exists for not recirculating the proposal for public
comment.
Incorporation by Reference
Class E5 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. 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 modifying the Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and updating the
administrative portion of the legal description at Petersburg James A.
Johnson Airport, AK.
While the existing airspace contains widespread Class E coverage
over an approximate 75 by 25-mile area, only that airspace within 6.5
miles of the airport extends upward from 700 feet. This action expands
that airspace to within 12.3 miles of the airport and adds a narrow
segment that extends 16.2 miles north of the airport. These changes
will appropriately contain arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet
above the surface and departing and missed approach IFR operations
until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface.
Next, this proposal removes multiple segments of Class E airspace
that extend upward from 1,200 feet above the surface to the north and
southeast, 3,300 feet above the surface to the south, 4,200 feet above
the surface to the south and southeast, and 5,700 feet above the
surface to the northwest. These airspace areas are redundant given that
the existing southeast E6 domestic airspace that blankets the region
provides sufficient controlled airspace for aircraft to transition into
and out of the terminal and en route environments.
Finally, administrative changes are made to lines two and three of
the text header for the airport's legal description. The airport name
in line two is incorrect and is changed to ``Petersburg James A.
Johnson Airport'' to align with the FAA's database. Line three removes
unnecessary descriptive references to the Fredericks Point
nondirectional beacon, Petersburg localizer, and Level Island very high
frequency omnidirectional range/distance measuring equipment.
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.
* * * * *
AAL AK E5 Petersburg, AK [Amended]
Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport, AK
(Lat. 56[deg]48'05'' N, long. 132[deg]56'46'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within the airport's 7.2-mile radius, between the 015[deg] and
145[deg] bearings extending from the 7.2-mile radius to the 9.6-mile
radius, between the 145[deg] and 277[deg] bearings extending from
the 7.2-mile radius to the 12.3-mile radius, and within .4 miles
west and 1.7 miles east of the 005[deg] bearing extending from the
7.2-mile radius to 16.2 miles north of the airport.
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on June 30, 2025.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-12430 Filed 7-2-25; 8:45 am]
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