Amendment of Class E Airspace; Little Rock, AR

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 116 (Thursday, June 16, 2016)

Federal Register Volume 81, Number 116 (Thursday, June 16, 2016)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 39182-39183

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2016-14071

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

Docket No. FAA-2015-3085; Airspace Docket No. 15-ASW-2

Amendment of Class E Airspace; Little Rock, AR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Little Rock, AR. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to closure of the air traffic control tower and associated approaches at Dennis F. Cantrell Field, Conway, AR. Dennis F. Cantrell Field is being removed from the airspace designation and legal description as it is no longer needed to describe the boundaries of Little Rock AFB. This action is necessary to ensure continued safety within the National Airspace System (NAS). Additionally, the geographic coordinates for Little Rock AFB and Saline County Airport, Benton, AR, are being adjusted.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, September 15, 2016. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under Title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications. For further information, you can contact the Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: 202-267-8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of FAA Order 7400.9Z at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.

FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points is published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Shelby, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone: 817-222-5857.

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 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 amends Class E airspace at Little Rock AFB, Little Rock, AR.

History

On March 7, 2016, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the Class E airspace at Little Rock Air Force Base, AR. The air traffic control tower at Dennis F. Cantrell Field, Conway, AR, has closed thereby removing Dennis F. Cantrell Field from the description for Little Rock AFB, (81 FR 11692), Docket No. FAA-2015-3085. Additionally, geographic coordinates for Little Rock AFB and Saline County Airport, Benton, AR, are adjusted. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA

Page 39183

Order 7400.9Z, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document amends FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 2015. FAA Order 7400.9Z is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.9Z lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

This action amends Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), Part 71 by amending Class E airspace at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), AR. The air traffic control tower at Dennis Cantrell Field, Conway, AR, has closed, and approaches cancelled. This action removes Dennis F. Cantrell Field, Conway, AR, from the airspace designation and regulatory text for Little Rock AFB, as they are no longer needed to define its boundaries. Additionally, geographic coordinates for Little Rock AFB, are changed from (lat. 34deg54'59'' N., long. 92deg08'47'' W.) to (lat. 34deg55'03'' N., long. 92deg08'42'' W.) and Saline County Airport, Benton, AR, coordinates are changed from (lat. 34deg33'23'' N., long. 92deg36'25'' W.) to (lat. 34deg35'25'' N., long. 92deg28'46'' W.). These minor adjustments reflect the current information in the FAA's aeronautical database.

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, is non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. 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 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 qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures'' paragraph 5-6.5a. 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).

Adoption of 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

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1. The authority citation for 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

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2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 2015, is amended as follows:

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

   * * * * *

   ASW AR E5 Little Rock, AR Amended

   Little Rock AFB, AR

   (Lat. 34deg55'03'' N., long. 92deg08'42'' W.)

   Little Rock, Adams Field, AR

   (Lat. 34deg43'46'' N., long. 92deg13'29'' W.)

   Benton, Saline County Airport, AR

   (Lat. 34deg35'25'' N., long. 92deg28'46'' W.)

   That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface bounded within a 20-mile radius of Little Rock AFB, and within a 22-

   mile radius of Adams Field Airport and within a 6.3-mile radius of Saline County Airport.

   Issued in Fort Worth, TX, on June 7, 2016.

   Walter Tweedy,

   Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.

   FR Doc. 2016-14071 Filed 6-15-16; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-P