[Federal Register: March 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 48)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11305-11307]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13mr07-13]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2006-25852; Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-29]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Modification to the Norton Sound Low, Woody Island Low,
Control 1234L and Control 1487L Offshore Airspace Areas; Alaska
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the following four Offshore
Airspace Areas in Alaska: Norton Sound Low, Woody Island Low, Control
1234L and Control 1487L. This action proposes to describe the airspace
west of 160[deg] W. longitude as it is currently depicted on
aeronautical charts. Some of the existing controlled airspace is
described as domestic Class E5 airspace around Kodiak, AK. This
airspace instead would be listed within the Woody Island Low Offshore
Airspace Area. The FAA is proposing this action to provide additional
controlled airspace for aircraft instrument flight rules (IFR)
operations, and to correctly describe the existing offshore airspace
areas in FAA Order 7400.9P, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points,
dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15, 2006.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 27, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 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 FAA Docket
No. FAA-2006-25852 and Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-29, at the beginning
of your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, Airspace and Rules,
Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;
telephone: (202) 267-8783.
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 (FAA Docket No.
FAA-2006-25852 and Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-29) and be submitted in
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2006-25852 and Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-29.''
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 action 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 NPRMs
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 Federal Register's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html
.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An
informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at
the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue 14, Anchorage, AK 99513.
Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future
NPRMs should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677,
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application
procedure.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify the Norton Sound Low, Woody
Island Low, and Control 1487L Offshore Airspace Areas, AK, by lowering
the floor to 1,200 feet MSL within a 45-mile radius of Hooper Bay
Airport, within a 81.2-mile radius of Perryville Airport, within a 73-
mile radius of Homer Airport, and within a 73-mile radius of St.
Michael Airport. The proposal would also modify Control 1234L Offshore
Airspace Area, AK, by lowering the floor to 1,200 feet above the
surface within an 81.2-mile radius of Perryville Airport, AK.
Additionally, this proposal would establish controlled airspace to
support IFR operations at the Hooper Bay, Perryville, Homer and St.
Michael Airports, AK. Additionally, controlled airspace extending
upward from the surface, from 700 above the surface, and from 1,200
feet above the surface, would be established in Control 1234L Offshore
Airspace Area. While reviewing this action, an error in the Control
1234L Offshore Airspace description in FAAO 7400.9N was discovered. The
Offshore Airspace Area Control 1234L begins at and extends west of
160[deg]00'00'' W. longitude. This airspace covers all the land west of
this longitude including the Aleutian Island chain and the Pribilof
Islands. Control 1234L Offshore Airspace around or near the Alaskan
airports of; Adak, Atka, Cold Bay, Dutch Harbor (Unalaska), Nelson
Lagoon, Sand Point, Eareckson Air Station, St. George, Port Heiden,
Homer, and Chignik, would be lowered from the 2,000 feet AGL floor to
incorporate Class E domestic airspace. This action is concurrent with
Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-34, proposing revocation of the domestic
airspace descriptions for these airports. Additionally, the airspace
description in FAA Order 7400.9P for Control 1234L should refer to
altitudes from ``above the surface''. The current description
erroneously uses ``MSL'' for the airspace associated with the Chignik
Airport, AK. The offshore airspace described from 1,200 feet would be
amended to describe it from ``above the surface''.
[[Page 11306]]
Additionally, some of the current Class E5 controlled airspace around
Kodiak Airport, AK, needs to be listed within Woody Island Offshore
Airspace in order to be correctly described. This action addresses this
issue and makes the correction.
Offshore Airspace Areas are published in paragraph 6007 of FAA
Order 7400.9P, dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15,
2006, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Offshore
Airspace Areas 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.
Therefore, this proposed regulation: (1) Is not a ``significant
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a
``significant rule'' under Department of Transportation (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 proposed 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.
ICAO Considerations
As part of this proposal relates to navigable airspace outside the
United States, this notice is submitted in accordance with the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) International
Standards and Recommended Practices. The application of International
Standards and Recommended Practices by the FAA, Office of System
Operations Airspace and AIM, Airspace & Rules, in areas outside the
United States domestic airspace, is governed by the Convention on
International Civil Aviation. Specifically, the FAA is governed by
Article 12 and Annex 11, which pertain to the establishment of
necessary air navigational facilities and services to promote the safe,
orderly, and expeditious flow of civil air traffic. The purpose of
Article 12 and Annex 11 is to ensure that civil aircraft operations on
international air routes are performed under uniform conditions.
The International Standards and Recommended Practices in Annex 11
apply to airspace under the jurisdiction of a contracting state,
derived from ICAO. Annex 11 provisions apply when air traffic services
are provided and a contracting state accepts the responsibility of
providing air traffic services over high seas or in airspace of
undetermined sovereignty. A contracting state accepting this
responsibility may apply the International Standards and Recommended
Practices that are consistent with standards and practices utilized in
its domestic jurisdiction.
In accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, state-owned
aircraft are exempt from the Standards and Recommended Practices of
Annex 11. The United States is a contracting state to the Convention.
Article 3(d) of the Convention provides that participating state
aircraft will be operated in international airspace with due regard for
the safety of civil aircraft. Since this action involves, in part, the
designation of navigable airspace outside the United States, the
Administrator is consulting with the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense in accordance with the provisions of Executive
Order 10854.
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:
PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
1. The authority citation for 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 7400.9P, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15,
2006, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6007 Offshore Airspace Areas.
The Class E airspace areas listed below extend upward from a
specified altitude to, but not including 18,000 feet MSL and are
designated as offshore airspace areas. These areas typically provide
controlled airspace beyond 12 miles from the coast of the United
States in those areas where there is a requirement to provide IFR
enroute ATC services and within which the United States is applying
domestic ATC procedures. In Alaska, Control 1234L also covers the
land masses of the Aleutian Island chain, west of 160[deg] West
longitude, and the Pribilof Islands.
* * * * *
Norton Sound Low, AK [Amended]
That airspace extending upward from 14,500 feet MSL within an
area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 56[deg]42'59'' N., long.
160[deg]00'00'' W., thence east and north by a line 12 miles from
and parallel to the shoreline to the intersection with a point 12
miles from the U.S. coastline and lat. 68[deg]00'00'' N., to lat.
68[deg]00'00'' N., long. 168[deg]58'23'' W., to lat. 65[deg]00'00''
N., long. 168[deg]58'23'' W., to lat. 62[deg]35'00'' N., long.
175[deg]00'00'' W., to lat. 59[deg]59'57'' N., long. 168[deg]00'08''
W., to lat. 57[deg]45'57'' N., long. 161[deg]46'08'' W., to lat.
58[deg]06'57'' N., long. 160[deg]00'00'' W., to the point of
beginning; and that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet MSL
within 13 miles west and 4 miles east of the Port Heiden NDB, AK,
339[deg](T)/323[deg](M) bearing extending from the Port Heiden NDB,
AK, to 25 miles northwest of the Port Heiden NDB, AK, and within 9
miles north of the Port Heiden NDB, AK, 248[deg](T)/229[deg](M)
bearing extending from the Port Heiden NDB, AK, to 24 miles west of
the Port Heiden NDB, AK, and north of the Alaska Peninsula and east
of 160[deg] West longitude within an 81.2-mile radius of Perryville
Airport, AK, and north of the Alaska Peninsula and east of 160[deg]
West longitude within a 72.8-mile radius of Chignik Airport, AK, and
within a 35-mile radius of lat. 60[deg]21'17'' N., long.
165[deg]04'01'' W., and within a 45-mile radius of Hooper Bay
Airport, AK, and within a 73-mile radius of St. Michael Airport, AK,
and within a 77.4-mile radius of the Nome VORTAC, AK, and within a
30-mile radius of lat. 66[deg]09'58'' N., long. 166[deg]30'03'' W.,
and within a 30-mile radius of lat. 66[deg]19'55'' N., long.
165[deg]40'32'' W., and within a 45-mile radius of Deering Airport,
AK; and that airspace extending upward from 700 feet MSL within 8
miles west and 4 miles east of the 339[deg](T)/323[deg](M) bearing
from the Port Heiden NDB, AK, extending from the Port Heiden NDB,
AK, to 20 miles northwest of the Port Heiden NDB, AK, and within a
25-mile radius of Nome Airport, AK.
* * * * *
Woody Island Low, AK [Amended]
That airspace extending upward from 14,500 feet MSL within the
area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 53[deg]30'00'' N., long.
160[deg]00'00'' W., to lat. 56[deg]00' 00'' N., long. 153[deg]00'
00'' W., to lat. 56[deg]45'42'' N., long. 151[deg]45'00'' W., to
lat. 58[deg]19'58'' N., long. 148[deg]55' 07'' W., to lat.
59[deg]08' 34'' N., long. 147[deg]16' 06'' W., then clockwise via
the 149.5-mile radius from the Anchorage, VOR/DME, AK, to the
intersection with a point 12 miles from and parallel to the U.S.
coastline, then southwest by a line 12 miles from and parallel to
the U.S. coastline to the intersection with long. 160[deg]00'00''
W., to the point of beginning; and that airspace extending upward
from 700 feet above the surface within 5 miles south and 9 miles
north of the 070[deg](T)/047[deg](M) radial of the Kodiak VORTAC,
AK, extending to 17 miles northeast of the Kodiak VORTAC, AK, and
within 8 miles north and 4 miles south of the Kodiak, AK, localizer
front course extending
[[Page 11307]]
to 20.3 miles east of Kodiak Airport, AK; and that airspace
extending upward from 1,200 feet MSL, within 27 miles of the Kodiak
VORTAC, AK, extending from the 023[deg](T)/000[deg](M) radial
clockwise to the 088[deg](T)/065[deg](M) radial and within 8 miles
north and 5 miles south of the Kodiak localizer front course
extending to 32 miles east of Kodiak Airport, AK, and that airspace
extending south and east of the Alaska Peninsula within a 72.8-mile
radius of Chignik Airport, AK, and outside (south) of the 149.5-mile
radius of the Anchorage VOR/DME, AK, within a 73-mile radius of
Homer Airport, AK, and south and east of the Alaska Peninsula within
an 81.2-mile radius of Perryville Airport, AK.
* * * * *
Control 1234L [Amended]
That airspace extending upward from 2,000 feet above the surface
within an area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 58[deg]06'57''
N., long. 160[deg]00'00'' W., then south along long. 160[deg]00'00''
W. until it intersects the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control
Center (ARTCC) boundary; then southwest, northwest, north, and
northeast along the Anchorage ARTCC boundary to lat. 62[deg]35'00''
N., long. 175[deg]00'00'' W., to lat. 59[deg]59'57'' N., long.
168[deg]00'08'' W., to lat. 57[deg]45'57'' N., long. 161[deg]46'08''
W., to the point of beginning; and that airspace extending upward
from the surface within a 4.6-mile radius of Cold Bay Airport, AK,
and within 1.7 miles each side of the 150[deg](T)/136[deg](M)
bearing from Cold Bay Airport, AK, extending from the 4.6-mile
radius to 7.7 miles southeast of Cold Bay Airport, AK, and within 3
miles west and 4 miles east of the 335[deg](T)/321[deg](M) bearing
from Cold Bay Airport, AK, extending from the 4.6-mile radius to
12.2 miles northwest of Cold Bay Airport, AK and that airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.9-mile
radius of Eareckson Air Station, AK, and within a 7-mile radius of
Adak Airport, AK, and within 5.2 miles northwest and 4.2 miles
southeast of the 061[deg](T)/054[deg](M) bearing from the Mount
Moffett NDB, AK, extending from the 7-mile radius of Adak Airport,
AK, to 11.5 miles northeast of Adak Airport, AK and within a 6.5-
mile radius of King Cove Airport, and that airspace extending 1.2
miles either side of the 103[deg](T)/162[deg](M) bearing from King
Cove Airport from the 6.5-mile radius out to 8.8 miles; and within a
6.4-mile radius of the Atka Airport, AK, and within a 6.9-mile
radius of Eareckson Air Station, AK, and within a 6.3-mile radius of
Nelson Lagoon Airport, AK and within a 6.4-mile radius of Sand Point
Airport, AK, and within 3 miles each side of the 172[deg](T)/
157[deg](M) bearing from the Borland NDB/DME, AK, extending from the
6.4-mile radius of Sand Point Airport, AK, to 13.9 miles south of
Sand Point Airport, AK, and within 5 miles either side of the
318[deg](T)/303[deg](M) bearing from the Borland NDB/DME, AK,
extending from the 6.4-mile radius of Sand Point Airport, AK, to 17
miles northwest of Sand Point Airport, AK, and within 5 miles either
side of the 324[deg](T)/309[deg](M) bearing from the Borland NDB/
DME, AK, and within a 6.6-mile radius of St. George Airport, AK, and
within an 8-mile radius of St. Paul Island Airport, AK, and 8 miles
west and 6 miles east of the 360[deg](T)/350[deg](M) bearing from
St. Paul Island Airport, AK, to 14 miles north of St. Paul Island
Airport, AK, and within 6 miles west and 8 miles east of the
172[deg](T)/162[deg](M) bearing from St. Paul Island Airport, AK to
15 miles south of Paul Island Airport, AK, and within a 6.4-mile
radius of Unalaska Airport, AK, and within 2.9 miles each side of
the 360[deg](T)/346[deg](M) bearing from the Dutch Harbor NDB, AK,
extending from the 6.4-mile radius of Unalaska Airport, AK, to 9.5
miles north of Unalaska Airport, AK; and that airspace extending
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 26.2-mile radius
of Eareckson Air Station, AK, within an 11-mile radius of Adak
Airport, AK, and within 16 miles of Adak Airport, AK, extending
clockwise from the 033[deg](T)/026[deg](M) bearing to the
081[deg](T)/074[deg](M) bearing from the Mount Moffett NDB, AK, and
within a 10-mile radius of Atka Airport, AK, and within a 10.6-mile
radius from Cold Bay Airport, AK, and within 9 miles east and 4.3
miles west of the 321[deg](T)/307[deg](M) bearing from Cold Bay
Airport, AK, extending from the 10.6-mile radius to 20 miles
northwest of Cold Bay Airport, AK, and 4 miles each side of the
070[deg](T)/056[deg](M) bearing from Cold Bay Airport, AK, extending
from the 10.6-mile radius to 13.6 miles northeast of Cold Bay
Airport, AK, and within a 26.2-mile radius of Eareckson Air Station,
AK, and west of 160[deg] west longitude within an 81.2-mile radius
of Perryville Airport, AK, and within a 10-mile radius of St. George
Airport, AK, and within a 73-mile radius of St. Paul Island Airport,
AK, and within a 20-mile radius of Unalaska Airport, AK, extending
clockwise from the 305[deg](T)/291[deg](M) bearing from the Dutch
Harbor NDB, AK, to the 075[deg](T)/061[deg](M) bearing from the
Dutch Harbor NDB, AK, and west of 160[deg] longitude within a 25-
mile radius of the Borland NDB/DME, AK, and west of 160[deg]
longitude within a 72.8-mile radius of Chignik Airport, AK.
* * * * *
Control 1487L [Amended]
That airspace extending upward from 8,000 feet MSL within 149.5
miles of the Anchorage VOR/DME clockwise from the 090[deg](T)/
065[deg](M) radial to the 185[deg](T)/160[deg](M) radial of the
Anchorage VOR/DME, AK; and that airspace extending upward from 5,500
feet MSL within the area bounded by a line beginning at lat.
58[deg]19'58'' N., long. 148[deg]55'07'' W.; to lat. 59[deg]08'35''
N., long. 147[deg]16'04'' W.; thence counterclockwise via the 149.5-
mile radius of the Anchorage VOR/DME, AK, to the intersection with a
point 12 miles from and parallel to the U.S. coastline; thence
southeast 12 miles from and parallel to the U.S. coastline to a
point 12 miles offshore on the Vancouver FIR boundary; to lat.
54[deg]32'57'' N., long. 133[deg]11'29'' W.; to lat. 54[deg]00'00''
N., long. 136[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 52[deg]43'00'' N., long.
135[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 56[deg]45'42'' N., long. 151[deg]45'00''
W.; to the point of beginning; and that airspace extending upward
from 1,200 feet MSL within the area bounded by a line beginning at
lat. 59[deg]33'25'' N., long. 141[deg]03'22'' W.; thence southeast
12 miles from and parallel to the U.S. coastline to lat.
58[deg]56'18'' N., long. 138[deg]45'19'' W.; to lat. 58[deg]40'00''
N., long. 139[deg]30'00'' W.; to lat. 59[deg]00'00'' N., long.
141[deg]10'00'' W.; to the point of beginning, and within an 85-mile
radius of the Biorka Island VORTAC, AK, and within a 42-mile radius
of the Middleton Island VOR/DME, AK, and within a 30-mile radius of
the Glacier River NDB, AK; and within a 149.5-mile radius of the
Anchorage VOR/DME, AK, within the 73-mile radius of Homer Airport,
AK; and that airspace extending upward from 700 feet MSL within 14
miles of the Biorka Island VORTAC, AK, and within 4 miles west and 8
miles east of the Biorka Island VORTAC 209[deg](T)/181[deg](M)
radial extending to 16 miles southwest of the Biorka Island VORTAC,
AK.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2007.
Paul Gallant,
Acting Manager, Airspace and Rules.
[FR Doc. E7-4466 Filed 3-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P