81 FR 95428 - Amendment of Class E Airspace, Blue Mesa, CO

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 249 (December 28, 2016)

This action amends Class E en route domestic airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface near the Blue Mesa VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/ DME), Blue Mesa, CO. The FAA has transitioned to a more accurate method of measuring, publishing, and charting airspace areas that has revealed some small areas of uncharted uncontrolled airspace. The FAA found modification of these areas of uncontrolled airspace necessary to ensure the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations and the efficient use of navigable airspace, including point-to-point off-airway clearances, and aircraft vectoring services.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 28, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 95428-95430]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30651]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-7043; Airspace Docket No. 16-ANM-6]


Amendment of Class E Airspace, Blue Mesa, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E en route domestic airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface near the Blue Mesa 
VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME), Blue Mesa, CO. The FAA has transitioned to a more accurate method 
of measuring, publishing, and charting airspace areas that has revealed 
some small areas of

[[Page 95429]]

uncharted uncontrolled airspace. The FAA found modification of these 
areas of uncontrolled airspace necessary to ensure the safety of 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations and the efficient use of 
navigable airspace, including point-to-point off-airway clearances, and 
aircraft vectoring services.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, March 2, 2017. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under Title 1, 
Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual revision of 
FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can 
contact the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., West Bldg Ground Floor Rm W12-140, Washington, 
DC 20590; Telephone: 1-800-647-5527, or 202-366-9826. The Order is also 
available for inspection at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of FAA Order 
7400.11A at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Clark, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4511.

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 at the Blue Mesa VOR/DME, Blue Mesa, CO.

History

    On August 8, 2016, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Blue Mesa, CO (81 
FR 52369) Docket FAA-2016-7043. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6006 of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11A lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
Part 71 by modifying Class E En route domestic airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface in the vicinity of the Blue 
Mesa VOR/DME, Blue Mesa, CO. One small airspace area northwest, near 
Montrose, CO, and one small airspace area southeast, near Trinidad, CO, 
are added for the safety and management of IFR operations, specifically 
point-to-point, en route operations outside of the established airway 
structure, and Air Traffic Control vectoring services.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6006 of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August, and effective September 15, 2016, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace 
designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in 
the Order.

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, is 
non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative 
comments. 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 5-6.5a. 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).

Adoption of 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 7400.11A, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and 
effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6006: En Route Domestic Airspace Areas.
* * * * *

ANM CO E6 Blue Mesa, CO [Amended]

Blue Mesa VOR/DME, CO
(Lat. 38[deg]27'08'' N., long. 107[deg]02'23'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
within an area bounded by lat. 35[deg]39'30'' N., long. 
107[deg]25'27'' W.; to lat. 36[deg]14'38'' N., long. 107[deg]40'25'' 
W.; to lat. 37[deg]16'00'' N., long. 108[deg]22'00'' W.; to lat. 
37[deg]58'51'' N, long.

[[Page 95430]]

108[deg]22'29'' W.; to lat. 39[deg]01'00'' N., long. 107[deg]47'00'' 
W.; to lat. 39[deg]07'40'' N, long. 107[deg]13'47'' W.; to lat. 
39[deg]11'48'' N., long. 106[deg]29'16'' W.; to lat. 39[deg]40'23'' 
N., long. 103[deg]29'02'' W.; to lat. 36[deg]59'57'' N., long. 
104[deg]18'04'' W.; to lat. 36[deg]17'00'' N., long. 104[deg]14'00'' 
W.; to lat. 36[deg]12'53'' N., long. 104[deg]56'21'' W.; to lat. 
36[deg]13'34'' N., long. 105[deg]54'42'' W.; thence to the point of 
beginning.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on December 12, 2016.
Tracey Johnson,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-30651 Filed 12-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P