[Federal Register: September 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 183)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55013-55015]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22se03-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2003-16075; Airspace Docket No. 03-AAL-18]
Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Mentasta Lake/
Mountains Area, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
[[Page 55014]]
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish new Class E airspace in the
Mentasta Lake/Mountains Area, AK. A commercial flight operator has
identified a need to operate via Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) from
Tok, AK off-airways, to/from Anchorage, AK. There is no existing Class
E airspace below 14,500 feet in the vicinity of the area of Mentasta
Lake/Mountains, AK to allow Anchorage ARTCC to provide IFR enroute
services to accommodate the request. Adoption of this proposal would
result in the establishment of Class E airspace upward from 1,200 feet
(ft.) above the surface in the Mentasta Lake/Mountains Area, AK.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 6, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal to the Docket Management
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket
number FAA-2003-16075/Airspace Docket No. 03-AAL-18, at the beginning
of your comments. You may also submit comments on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.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. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5527) is on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation
NASSIF Building at the above address.
An informal docket may also be examined during normal business
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal
Aviation Administration, Manager, Operations Branch, AAL-530, Federal
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK
99513-7587.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derril Bergt, AAL-531, Federal
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK
99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-2796; fax: (907) 271-2850; e-
mail: Derril.Bergt@faa.gov. Internet address: http://
www.alaska.faa.gov/at.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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-2003-16075/
Airspace Docket No. 03-AAL-18.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped
and returned to the commenter.
All communications received on or 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
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for
examination in the public docket both before and after the closing date
for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking's (NPRM's)
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents
can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov
or the Superintendent of Document's Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara
.
Additionally, any person may obtain a copy of this notice by
submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of
Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591 or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must
identify both docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in
being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the
FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, to request a copy of
Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution
System, which describes the application procedure.
The Proposal
The FAA is considering an amendment to the Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR part 71) by establishing new Class E airspace in
the area of the Mentasta Lake and Mountains, AK. The intended effect of
this proposal is to establish Class E airspace upward from 1,200 ft.
above the surface, to contain IFR enroute operations in the area of
Mentasta Lake/Mountains, AK.
A commercial flight operator (Part 135) has identified a need for
more direct IFR routings to/from Tok, Alaska. New Class E enroute
controlled airspace extending upward from 1,200 ft. above the surface
within the Mentasta Lake and Mountains area, Alaska would be created by
this action. The proposed airspace is sufficient to contain aircraft
proceeding to or from the south of Tok, AK direct to join or leave
federal airways in the vicinity of Gulkana, AK. The area would be
depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference. The coordinates
for this airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. The
Class E airspace areas designated as 1200 foot enroute domestic
airspace areas are published in paragraph 6006 in FAA Order 7400.9K,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 30, 2002, and
effective September 16, 2002, which is incorporated by reference in 14
CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in this document
would be published subsequently in the Order.
The FAA has determined that this proposed 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
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is
certified that this rule, when promulgated, will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the
criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:
[[Page 55015]]
PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.
Sec. 71.1 [Amended]
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9K, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated August 30, 2002, and effective September 16,
2002, is to be amended as follows:
* * * * *
Paragraph 6006 Class E En Route Domestic Airspace Areas.
* * * * *
AAL AK E6 Mentasta Lake/Mountains, AK [New]
That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet bounded on the
north by V-444, on the south by G-8, and on the west by V-515,
excluding the Fairbanks Class E Airspace and that airspace
designated for federal airways.
* * * * *
Issued in Anchorage, AK, on September 12, 2003.
Judith G. Heckl,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 03-24141 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm]
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