83 FR 26889 - Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace and Amendment of Class E Airspace; Ephrata, WA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 112 (June 11, 2018)

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and modify Class E surface area airspace at Ephrata Municipal Airport, Ephrata, WA. This action also proposes to update the geographic coordinates of the airport in the associated Class E airspace areas to match the FAA's aeronautical database. These changes are necessary to accommodate airspace redesign for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System. Also, an editorial change would be made to the Class E surface airspace legal description replacing ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with the term ``Chart Supplement''.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26889-26891]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12413]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1031; Airspace Docket No. 17-ANM-21]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace and Amendment of Class 
E Airspace; Ephrata, WA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface, and modify Class E surface area 
airspace at Ephrata Municipal Airport, Ephrata, WA. This action also 
proposes to update the geographic coordinates of the airport in the 
associated Class E airspace areas to match the FAA's aeronautical 
database. These changes are necessary to accommodate airspace redesign 
for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) 
operations within the National Airspace System. Also, an editorial 
change would be made to the Class E surface airspace legal description 
replacing ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with the term ``Chart 
Supplement''.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 26, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
1-800-647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2017-1031; Airspace Docket No. 17-ANM-21, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11B, 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 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Farnsworth, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 2200 
S 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198-6547; telephone (206) 213-2244.

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 establish and amend Class E airspace at Ephrata Municipal 
Airport, Ephrata, WA, to support standard instrument approach 
procedures for IFR operations at the airport.

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,

[[Page 26890]]

environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. 
Communications should identify both docket numbers and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Persons 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-2017-1031; 
Airspace Docket No. 17-ANM-21''. The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of the 
comments received. A report summarizing each substantive public contact 
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

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.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    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 Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective 
September 15, 2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B 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 establishing Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface and modifying Class E surface 
area airspace at Ephrata Municipal Airport, Ephrata, WA.
    Class E surface area airspace would be modified to a 4.2-mile 
radius of the airport (from a 4.4-mile radius of the Ephrata Municipal 
Airport and within 2.7 miles each side of the Ephrata VORTAC 043[deg] 
and 233[deg] radials extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 7 miles 
northeast of the VORTAC). The exclusionary language noting Moses Lake, 
WA, Class D airspace would be removed as it is not needed to define the 
boundary.
    Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet would be 
established within 4.2 miles northwest and 6.6 miles southeast of the 
043[deg] and 223[deg] bearings from the airport extending from the 
airport reference point to 11.1 miles northeast and 6.3 miles southwest 
of the airport, respectively.
    Additionally, this action proposes to update the geographic 
coordinates for the associated Class E airspace areas to match the 
FAA's aeronautical database. Also, an editorial change would be made to 
the Class E airspace legal descriptions replacing Airport/Facility 
Directory with the term Chart Supplement.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6002 and 
6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017, and 
effective September 15, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 
CFR 71.1. The Class D and 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 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 7400.11B, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and 
effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ANM WA E2 Ephrata, WA [Amended]

Ephrata Municipal Airport, WA
    (Lat. 47[deg]18'2'' N, long. 119[deg]31'01'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-
mile radius of Ephrata Municipal Airport. This Class E airspace area 
is effective during specific dates and times established in advance 
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter 
be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

ANM WA E5 Ephrata, WA [New]

Ephrata Municipal Airport, WA
    (Lat. 47[deg]18'29'' N, long. 119[deg]31'01'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 4.2 miles northwest and 6.6 miles southeast of the 043[deg] 
and 223[deg] bearings from Ephrata Municipal Airport extending from 
the airport reference point to 11.1 miles northeast and 6.3 miles 
southwest of the airport.


[[Page 26891]]


    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on June 4, 2018.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2018-12413 Filed 6-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P