82 FR 15172 - Proposed Amendment of Class D Airspace; Kingsville, TX

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 57 (March 27, 2017)

This action proposes to modify Class D airspace extending up to 2,500 feet above the surface at Kingsville Naval Air Station (NAS), Kingsville, TX. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Kingsville radio beacon (RBN), and cancellation of the RBN approach, and would enhance the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action would also update the geographic coordinates of the airport.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 57 (Monday, March 27, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15172-15173]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05803]



[[Page 15172]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9511; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-20]


Proposed Amendment of Class D Airspace; Kingsville, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class D airspace extending up 
to 2,500 feet above the surface at Kingsville Naval Air Station (NAS), 
Kingsville, TX. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of 
the Kingsville radio beacon (RBN), and cancellation of the RBN 
approach, and would enhance the safety and management of instrument 
flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action would also 
update the geographic coordinates of the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 11, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; telephone 
(202) 366-9826, or 1-800-647-5527. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2016-9511; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-20, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. You may review the public docket containing the 
proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in 
the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    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 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: 202-267-8783. 
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: Ron Laster, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Contract Support, Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 
(817) 222-5879.

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 would modify Class D airspace extending up to and including 2,500 
feet MSL above the surface area at Kingsville NAS, Kingsville, TX, to 
accommodate the decommissioning of the Kingsville radio beacon (RBN) 
and cancellation of the RBN approach.

 Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as 
they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. 
Communications should identify both docket numbers and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2016-9511/
Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-20.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.regulations.gov.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the address and phone number) 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic 
Organization, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents Proposed for Incorporation by 
Reference

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

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) Part 71 by modifying Class D airspace extending up 
to and including 2,500 feet MSL within a 4.3-mile radius of Kingsville 
NAS by removing the area within two miles each side of the 200 degree 
bearing from the Kingsville RBN extending from the 4.3-mile radius to 
4.9 miles south of the airport. This action would also update the 
geographic coordinates of the airport to be in concert with the FAA's 
aeronautical database.
    Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of 
the RBN and cancellation of the RBN approaches, and would enhance the 
safety and management of standard instrument approach procedures for 
IFR operations at the airport.
    Class D airspace designations are published in paragraph 6000 of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D 
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

[[Page 15173]]

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 will only 
affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that 
this rule, when promulgated, would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal 
Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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 7400.11A, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and 
effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6000 Class D Airspace Areas.

* * * * *

ASW TX D Kingsville, TX [Amended]

Kingsville Naval Air Station (NAS), TX
    (Lat. 27[deg]30'16'' N., long. 97[deg]48'30'' W.)
Kingsville TACAN
    (Lat. 27[deg]29'57'' N., long. 97[deg]48'20'' W.)

    That airspace extends upward from the surface to and including 
2,500 feet MSL within a 4.3-mile radius of Kingsville NAS, and 
within 1.3 miles each side of the 191[deg] radial of the Kingsville 
TACAN extending from the 4.3-mile radius to 4.9 miles south of the 
airport.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 13, 2017.
Walter Tweedy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2017-05803 Filed 3-24-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P