Air traffic operating and flight rules, etc.: Class D and Class E airspace,

[Federal Register: August 26, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 165)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 45394-45395]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr26au98-4]

[[Page 45394]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AWP-12]

Revocation of Class D and E Airspace; Crows Landing, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: This action will revoke the Class D and Class E airspace at Crows Landing Airport, Crows Landing, CA. In 1993 the U.S. Navy transferred operation of Crows Landing Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and changed the airport name to NASA Crows Landing. In 1995 the Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) was decommissioned, therefore the required criteria for Class D airspace is no longer met. The removal of the Class D airspace will also cause the removal of the Class E airspace extensions to the Class D airspace.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC December 3, 1998. Comment date: Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before September 25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the direct final rule in triplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Attn: Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP- 520, Docket No. 98-AWP-12, Air Traffic Division, P.O. Box 92007, Worldway Postal Center, Los Angeles, California 90009.

The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 6007, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the Office of the Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra Trindle, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Specialist, AWP-520.10, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261, telephone (310) 725-6613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The intended effect of this action is to remove the Class D and Class E airspace areas below 1200 feet above ground level (AGL) associated with Crows Landing NALF and to change the name to NASA Crows Landing Airport in the legal description of the controlled airspace. The controlled airspace extending upward from 1200 feet AGL will remain unchanged. Class D airspace areas are published in Paragraph 5000 and Class E airspace areas are published in Paragraphs 6002, 6004 and 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9D dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and Class E airspace designations listed in this document would be subsequently removed from this Order, with the exception of the Class E airspace designated upward from 1200 feet AGL.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule. This action removes previously designated controlled airspace associated with Crows Landing NALF and changes the name to NASA Crows Landing Airport. The intended effect of this action is to remove controlled airspace where no longer required. Unless a written adverse or negative comment or a written notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is received within the comment period, the regulation will become effective on the date specified above. After the close of the comment period, the FAA will publish a document in the Federal Register indicating that no adverse or negative comments were received and confirming the date on which the final rule will become effective. If the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an adverse or negative comment, or written notice of intent to submit such a comment, a document withdrawing the direct final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of the comments received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this action will be filedin the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. 98-AWP-12.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons discussed in the preamble, this regulation only involves an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this regulation--(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 will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

[[Page 45395]]

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, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; 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; 14 CFR 11.69.

   Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 1997, is amended as follows:

   Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth.

   * * * * *

   AWP CA E5 NASA Crows Landing, CA [Revised]

   NASA Crows Landing, CA

   (lat. 37 deg.24'29'' N, long. 121 deg.06'34'' W)

   That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface bounded on the north by lat. 37 deg.08'00'' N, on the east by the west edge of V-109, on the southwest by the northeast edge of V-107 and on the west by long. 121 deg.31'04'' W. * * * * *

   Paragraph 6004 Class E airspace areas designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area.

   * * * * *

   AWP CA E4 Crows Landing NALF, CA [Removed]

   * * * * *

   Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace areas designated as a surface area for an airport.

   * * * * *

   AWP CA E2 Crows Landing NALF, CA [Removed]

   * * * * *

   Issued in Los Angeles, California, on August 18, 1998. John G. Clancy, Manager, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific Region.

   [FR Doc. 98-22749Filed8-25-98; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-M