[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42797-42799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10254]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-2482; Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-26]
RIN 2120-AA66
Modification of Class E Airspace; Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport,
Galena, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class E airspace designated as a
surface area and modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from
700 feet above the surface at Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK.
Additionally, this action contains administrative actions that update
the airport's geographic coordinates in the legal description to match
the FAA database. These actions support the safety and management of
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, July 11, 2024. 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
[[Page 42798]]
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.
FAA Order JO 7400.11H, 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: Keith T. Adams, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western Service Center, Operation Support Group, 2200
S. 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198, telephone: (206) 231-2428.
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
the 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 modifies Class E airspace to support IFR operations at
Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA-2023-2482 in the Federal Register (89 FR 2520; January 16, 2024),
proposing to amend Class E airspace at Edward G. Pitka Sr, Airport,
Galena, AK. Interested parties were invited to participate in this
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the
FAA. No comments were received.
Differences From the NPRM
When identifying the Class E airspace extending upward from 700
feet or more above the surface of the earth, an inadvertent text was
entered in line one of the text header for type of airspace. The
appropriate designation of E5 was entered in the airport's legal texts
in the Final Rule.
Incorporation by Reference
Class E2 and E5 airspace areas are published in paragraph 6002 and
6005, respectively, 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 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective
September 15, 2023. FAA Order JO 7400.11H is publicly available as
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will
be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas,
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.
The Rule
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying the Class E airspace
area designated as a surface area and modifying the Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Edward G. Pitka Sr.
Airport, Galena, AK.
The Class E airspace area designated as a surface area is reduced
to 4.1-mile radius around the airport. The reduction in airspace
efficiently contains IFR departure operations until reaching 700 feet
above the surface or the next adjacent controlled airspace.
The Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the
surface is modified to contain aircraft executing IFR arrival
procedures descending through 1,500 feet above the surface. The
modification more appropriately contains the airport's instrument
arrival approaches' final bearings and final bearing protected
airspaces.
Finally, the FAA amended the airport's legal description. The
airport's geographic coordinates have been updated to match the FAA's
database.
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 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5.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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 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
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11,
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Area Designated as a Surface Area.
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Galena, AK [Amended]
Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, AK
(Lat. 64[deg]44'10'' N., long. 156[deg]56'4'' W.)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-
mile radius of the airport.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Area Extending Upward From 700 Feet
or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
AAL AK E5 Galena, AK [Amended]
Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, AK
(Lat. 64[deg]44'10'' N., long. 156[deg]56'4'' W.)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.6-mile radius of the airport, within 4.8 miles of each
side of the airport's 086[deg] bearing extending to 20.2 miles east
of the airport, and within 2.1 miles each side of the airport's
269[deg]
[[Page 42799]]
bearing extending to 12.2 miles west of the airport; that airspace
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 73-mile
radius of the airport.
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, May 1, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-10254 Filed 5-15-24; 8:45 am]
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