83 FR 37778 - Proposed Modification of Class E Airspace for the Following Alaska Towns; Toksook Bay, AK; Unalakleet, AK; Wainwright, AK; and Yakutat, AK

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 149 (August 2, 2018)

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Toksook Bay Airport, Toksook Bay, AK; Unalakleet Airport, Unalakleet, AK; Wainwright Airport, Wainwright, AK; and Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, AK. This proposal would add exclusionary language to the legal descriptions of these airports for Class E airspace extending beyond 12 miles from the shoreline, and would ensure the safety and management of aircraft within the National Airspace System.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37778-37779]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16503]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0350; Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-6]
RIN-2120-AA66


Proposed Modification of Class E Airspace for the Following 
Alaska Towns; Toksook Bay, AK; Unalakleet, AK; Wainwright, AK; and 
Yakutat, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Toksook Bay Airport, 
Toksook Bay, AK; Unalakleet Airport, Unalakleet, AK; Wainwright 
Airport, Wainwright, AK; and Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, AK. This 
proposal would add exclusionary language to the legal descriptions of 
these airports for Class E airspace extending beyond 12 miles from the 
shoreline, and would ensure the safety and management of aircraft 
within the National Airspace System.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 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-2017-0350; Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-6, 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 7400.11A 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 Roberts, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 2200 
S 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198-6547; telephone (206) 231-2245.

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 amend Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet 
above the surface at Toksook Bay Airport, AK; Unalakleet Airport, AK; 
Wainwright Airport, AK; and Yakutat Airport, AK, to support IFR 
operations in standard instrument approach and departure procedures at 
these airports and to limit Class E airspace to within 12 miles of the 
shoreline.

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. 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-2017-0350, 
Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-6''. 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, Western Service Center, 2200 S 216th 
St., Des Moines, WA 98198-6547.

[[Page 37779]]

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 modifying Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Toksook Bay Airport, 
Toksook, AK; Unalakleet Airport, Unalakleet, AK; Wainwright Airport, 
Wainwright, AK; and Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, AK. This action would add 
language to the legal descriptions of these airports that reads `` 
excluding that airspace extending beyond 12 miles of the shoreline'', 
and would support IFR operations in standard instrument approach and 
departure procedures at these airports.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 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 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, 
and 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 would 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 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Toksook Bay, AK [Amended]

Toksook Bay Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]32'29'' N, long. 165[deg]05'14'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.3-mile radius of Toksook Bay Airport; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 73-mile 
radius of the Toksook Bay Airport, excluding that airspace that 
extends beyond 12 miles of the shoreline.

AAL AK E5 Unalakleet, AK [Amended]

Unalakleet Airport, AK
    (Lat. 63[deg]53'19'' N, long. 160[deg]47'57'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7-mile radius of Unalakleet Airport beginning at the 
360[deg] bearing of the airport clockwise to the 260[deg] bearing of 
the airport, and within a 13.5-mile radius of the airport beginning 
at the 260[deg] bearing of the airport clockwise to the 360[deg] 
bearing of the airport, and within 6 miles each side of the 
Unalakleet Airport 185[deg] bearing of the airport extending from 
the 7-mile radius to 10 miles south of the airport; and that 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 
74-mile radius of Unalakleet Airport, excluding that airspace that 
extends beyond 12 miles of the shoreline.

AAL AK E5 Wainwright, AK [Amended]

Wainwright Airport, AK
    (Lat. 70[deg]38'17'' N, long. 159[deg]59'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8.5-mile radius of Wainwright Airport; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 73-mile 
radius of the Wainwright Airport, AK, excluding that portion 
extending outside the Anchorage Arctic CTA/FIR (PAZA) boundary, and 
excluding that airspace that extends beyond 12 miles of the 
shoreline.

AAL AK E5 Wales, AK [Amended]

Wales Airport, AK
    (Lat. 65[deg]37'21'' N, long. 168[deg]05'42'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.35-mile radius of Wales Airport; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within an area 
bounded by lat. 65[deg]24'00'' N, long.168[deg]30'00'' W, to lat. 
65[deg]53'00'' N, long. 168[deg]30'00'' W, to lat. 66[deg]00'00'' N, 
long. 167[deg]50'00'' W, to lat. 65[deg]24'00'' N, 167[deg]50'00'' 
W, to point of beginning, excluding that airspace within the Tin 
City Class E airspace area, and excluding that airspace that extends 
beyond 12 miles of the shoreline.

AAL AK E5 Yakutat, AK [Amended]

Yakutat Airport, AK
    (Lat. 59[deg]30'12'' N, long. 139[deg]39'37'' W)

Yakutat VOR/DME
    (Lat. 59[deg]30'39'' N, long. 139[deg]38'53'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within the area bounded by lat. 59[deg]47'42'' N, 139[deg]58'48'' W, 
to lat. 59[deg]37'33'' N, long. 139[deg]40'54'' W, then along the 7 
mile radius of the Yakutat VOR/DME clockwise to lat. 59[deg]28'54'' 
N, long. 139[deg]25'36'' W, to lat. 59[deg]20'16'' N, long. 
139[deg]10'20'' W, to lat. 59[deg]02'49'' N, long. 139[deg]47'45'' 
W, to lat. 59[deg]30'15'' N, long. 140[deg]36'43'' W, to the point 
of beginning, excluding that area beyond 12 miles from the shoreline 
within Gulf of Alaska Low Control Area; and that airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 75-mile radius of 
the Yakutat VOR/DME, excluding that area extending over Canada, and 
that airspace that extends beyond 12 miles of the shoreline within 
Control 1487L.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on July 25, 2018.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2018-16503 Filed 8-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P