[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 3, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55640-55641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-21810]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-2255; Airspace Docket No. 25-ASW-9]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace; George West, TX
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace at George West, TX.
This action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the
decommissioning of the Three Rivers very high frequency omnidirectional
range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON)
Program. It also brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders
and supports instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, March 19, 2026. 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
www.federalregister.gov.
FAA Order JO 7400.11K, 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,
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.
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.
[[Page 55641]]
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 airspace at the affected airport to support IFR operations.
History
The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2025-2255 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 38618; August 11, 2025) proposing to amend the
Class E airspace at George West, TX. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal to the FAA. One (1) comment was received. The following
response is provided.
The comment supported the proposed action and suggested that the
FAA should evaluate whether the change would increase air traffic or
noise to the surrounding area before finalizing.
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
primary serves to transition aircraft from the terminal to enroute
environment and protect the instrument procedures at the airport for
which the airspace is designated. Air traffic counts are not part of
the evaluation process for this type of airspace. This action is not
being taken to accommodate increased air traffic operations but to
contain the instrument procedures.
Noise screening is part of the environmental review process all
airspace actions must complete.
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
7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025. These
amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO
7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, 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
at George West, Texas due to an airspace review conducted as part of
the decommissioning of the Three Rivers VOR as part of the VOR MON
Program.
For the Live Oak County Airport, George West, TX, Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 ft above the surface, this action: (1)
increases the radius from 6.4 miles to 7.7 miles of the airport; (2)
removes the Three Rivers VORTAC and the associated extension from the
airspace legal description; and (3) removes the city associated with
the airport from the airspace legal description to comply with changes
to FAA Order JO 7400.2R, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters.
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 1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy Act
Implementing Procedures,'' Paragraph B-2.5(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
7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 4,
2025, and effective September 15, 2025, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
ASW TX E5 George West, TX [Amended]
Live Oak County Airport, TX
(Lat. 28[deg]21'46'' N, long. 098[deg]06'59'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 7.7-mile radius of Live Oak County Airport.
* * * * *
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 1, 2025.
Jerry J. Creecy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-21810 Filed 12-2-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P