[Federal Register: October 30, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 211)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 64573-64575]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30oc08-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0661; Airspace Docket No. 08-AAL-19]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Establishment of Colored Federal Airway; Alaska
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Colored Federal Airway Blue
7 (B-7), in Alaska. This action would add to the Instrument Flight
Rules (IFR) airway and route structure in Alaska by providing IFR
connectivity between Bethel, AK and Cape Newenham, AK. The FAA is
proposing this action to enhance safety and improve the management of
air traffic operations in the State of Alaska.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001;
telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2008-
0661 and Airspace Docket No. 08-AAL-19 at the beginning of your
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, Airspace and Rules Group,
[[Page 64574]]
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-2008-0661 and Airspace Docket No. 08-AAL-19) and be submitted in
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the
Internet at http://www.regulations.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-2008-0661, Airspace Docket No. 08-AAL-19.'' 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://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://
www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/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 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, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587.
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 establish Colored Federal Airway B-7
between Bethel and Cape Newenham, AK. This action would add to the IFR
airway and route structure in Alaska by providing IFR connectivity
between Bethel, AK and Cape Newenham, AK. The FAA is proposing this
action to improve the management of air traffic operations in the State
of Alaska and to enhance safety.
Colored Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6009 of FAA
Order 7400.9R, signed August 15, 2007, and effective September 15,
2007, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Colored
Federal Airways listed in this document will 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.
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
because it proposes to create a Federal Airway within the State of
Alaska and represents the FAA's continuing effort to safely and
efficiently use the navigable airspace.
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance
with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and
Procedures,'' paragraph 311a. 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 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 FAA Order
7400.9R, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, signed August 15,
2007 and effective September 15, 2007, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6009(d) Blue Federal Airways
* * * * *
B-7 [New]
From Oscarville, AK, NDB; to the Cape Newenham, AK, NDB.
* * * * *
[[Page 64575]]
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 22, 2008.
Edith V. Parish,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Group.
[FR Doc. E8-25940 Filed 10-29-08; 8:45 am]
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