[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48271-48272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12151]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-1457; Airspace Docket No. 24-AWA-1]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class C Airspace Description; Manchester Boston
Regional Airport, NH
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends the Manchester Boston Regional Airport
(MHT), NH, Class C airspace area description by making editorial
changes to the northern shelf boundary of the Class C airspace from
using the Manchester, NH (MHT), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional
Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) to use the Manchester
Boston Regional Airport, Airport Reference Point (ARP). Additionally,
this action makes minor editorial amendments to the airspace
description header to follow current formatting guidelines. These
changes are editorial only and do not alter the current boundaries,
altitudes, Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures, or operating
requirements for the Manchester Boston Regional Airport Class C
airspace.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, September 5, 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 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: Brian Vidis, Rules and Regulations
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
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 the National Airspace System as necessary to
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.
History
The Manchester, NH (MHT), VOR/DME is one of the candidate VORs
identified for discontinuance by the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational
Network (MON) program and listed in the final policy statement notice,
``Provision of Navigation Services for the Next Generation Air
Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to Performance-Based
Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum Operational
Network),'' published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2016 (81 FR
48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. The FAA is planning to decommission
only the VOR portion of the Manchester VOR/DME in September 2024.
The Manchester Regional Boston Airport, NH, Class C airspace area
description uses the Manchester VOR/DME to describe the northern shelf
boundary of the Class C airspace. To retain the accuracy of the
Manchester Regional Boston Airport Class C airspace area, the FAA is
removing reference to the Manchester VOR/DME in the northern shelf
description and replace it with bearings and distances from the
Manchester Boston Regional Airport, ARP.
Incorporation by Reference
Class C airspace designations are published in paragraph 4000 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 making editorial changes to
the Manchester Regional Boston Airport, NH, Class C airspace
description. This action removes references to the Manchester VOR/DME
in northern shelf boundary of the Class C airspace and replaces it with
bearings and distances from the Manchester Boston Regional Airport,
ARP. The Class C airspace boundaries affected by the Manchester VOR/DME
will remain unchanged and unaffected by replacing the Manchester VOR/
DME references with bearings and distances from the Manchester Boston
Regional Airport, ARP.
Additionally, in the description of the ARP for the Boire Field
Airport, NH, the city name is removed from the fourth line in the text
header leaving just the airport name and state which align with the
current formatting standard.
Since this action merely involves minor editorial amendments in the
Manchester, NH, Class C airspace area description and does not change
the charted boundaries, altitudes, ATC procedures, or operating
requirements for the Class C airspace area, notice and public procedure
under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 553(b) are unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest.
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
[[Page 48272]]
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 amending the Manchester
Regional Boston Airport, NH, Class C airspace description, qualifies
for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR
part 1500, and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental
Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically
excludes from further environmental impact review rulemaking actions
that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes,
and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C,
D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting
Points). As such, this action is not expected to result in any
potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA
Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, the
FAA has reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a
normally categorically excluded action may have a significant
environmental impact requiring further analysis. Accordingly, the FAA
has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant
preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact
study.
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, signed August 11,
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 4000 Class C Airspace.
* * * * *
ANE NH C Manchester, NH
Manchester Boston Regional Airport, NH (Primary Airport)
(Lat. 42[deg]55'58'' N, long. 71[deg]26'09'' W)
Boire Field Airport, NH
(Lat. 42[deg]46'57'' N, long. 71[deg]30'51'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
4,300 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of the Manchester Boston
Regional Airport; including that airspace extending upward from
2,500 feet MSL to and including 4,300 feet MSL within a 10-mile
radius of the airport; including that airspace from 1,500 feet MSL
between a 5-mile radius and 10-mile radius south of the airport from
Interstate 93 clockwise to the eastern edge of the 5-mile radius of
Boire Field Airport; including that airspace from 2,000 feet MSL
between a 5-mile radius and 10-mile radius north of the airport from
a line formed by a point at the 307[deg] bearing from the airport at
5 miles direct to a point at the 311[deg] bearing from the airport
at 10 miles clockwise to Interstate 93.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 29, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-12151 Filed 6-5-24; 8:45 am]
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