[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 57 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14385-14386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6665]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0001; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-10]


Revocation of Class D and E Airspace; Panama City, FL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action would remove Class D and Class E airspace areas at 
Panama City-Bay County Airport, Panama City, FL, as the old airport and 
control tower is scheduled to be closed. Controlled airspace will be 
established for the new airport under separate rulemaking.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 10, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this rule to: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
Telephone: 1-800-647-5527; Fax: 202-493-2251. You must identify the 
Docket Number FAA-2010-0001; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-10, at the 
beginning of your comments. You may also submit and review received 
comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melinda Giddens, Airspace Specialist, 
Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-5610.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule 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-2010-0001 and Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-10) 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://222.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 Docket 
No. FAA-2010-0001; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-10.'' The postcard will 
be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received 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 the 
comments received. 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 from and 
comments submitted through 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 rule, 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 Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 
210, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337.
    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 Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove Class D and E airspace at Panama 
City-Bay County Airport, Panama City, FL. Panama City-Bay County 
Airport is closing to allow establishment of controlled airspace at the 
new airport, which is being proposed under separate rulemaking. Also, 
Class E airspace for Tyndall AFB would be re-established under separate 
rulemaking.
    Class D airspace designations, Class E airspace designations as 
extensions to a Class D surface area (E4), and Class E5 designations 
are published in Paragraphs 5000, 6004 and 6005, respectively, of FAA 
Order 7400.9T, signed August 27, 2009, and effective September 15, 
2009, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D 
and 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 proposed rule, when promulgated, would 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 proposed rulemaking is promulgated under the authority 
described in Subtitle VII, Part, A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under 
that section, the FAA is charged with

[[Page 14386]]

prescribing regulations to assign the use of airspace necessary to 
ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This 
proposed regulation is within the scope of that authority as it 
proposes to remove Class D and E airspace at Panama City-Bay County 
Airport, Panama City, FL.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (Air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 7400.9T, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, signed August 27, 2009, and effective September 15, 
2009, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO FL D Panama City, FL [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a 
Class D Surface Area.

* * * * *

ASO FL E4 Panama City, FL [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward from 700 
feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

ASO FL E5 Panama City, FL [Removed]

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on March 17, 2010.
Michael Vermuth,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2010-6665 Filed 3-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P