[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 9, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30204-30205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12723]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0099; Airspace Docket No. 24-ANM-124]
RIN 2120-AA66
Establishment of Class E Airspace; Ekalaka Airport, Ekalaka, MT
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 of the earth at Ekalaka Airport, Ekalaka,
MT. 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 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: Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3460.
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 Ekalaka Airport, Ekalaka, MT.
History
The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2025-0099 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 20138; May 12, 2025), proposing to establish
Class E airspace at Ekalaka Airport, Ekalaka, MT. Interested parties
were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting
written comments on the proposal to the FAA. One comment was received
that provided a non-substantive remark.
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, 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
The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by establishing Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ekalaka Airport,
Ekalaka, MT.
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet is established
within a 3-mile radius of the airport with extensions to the southeast
and northwest. The configuration will provide sufficient containment to
the southeast for arriving IFR operations on the Global Positioning
System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 31 approach below 1,500 feet above the
surface and
[[Page 30205]]
departing IFR operations on the RWY 13 obstacle departure procedure
(ODP) until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface. Additional
containment is added to the northwest to accommodate arriving IFR
operations on the GPS RWY 13 approach below 1,500 feet above the
surface and departing IFR operations on the RWY 31 ODP until reaching
1,200 feet above the surface.
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.
List 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 part 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 MT E5 Ekalaka, MT [New]
Ekalaka Airport, MT
(Lat. 45[deg]52'35'' N, long. 104[deg]32'15'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 3-mile radius of the airport and within 2.1 miles on either
side of the airport's 138[deg] bearing extending from the 3-mile
radius to 6.5 miles southeast, and within 2.1 miles on either side
of the airport's 318[deg] bearing extending from the 3-mile radius
to 8.5 miles northwest.
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on July 2, 2025.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-12723 Filed 7-8-25; 8:45 am]
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