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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 108 (Monday, June 6, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36140-36141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13145]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-0449; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-2]

Amendment of Class E Airspace; Clovis, NM

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Portales Municipal Airport, Clovis, NM. 
Decommissioning of the Portales non-directional radio beacon (NDB), 
cancellation of NDB approaches at Portales Municipal Airport, and 
implementation of area navigation (RNAV) procedures have made this 
action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also updates the 
geographic coordinates for Portales Municipal Airport to coincide with 
the FAA's aeronautical database.

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: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

[[Page 36141]]

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 would amend Class E airspace at Portales Municipal Airport, 
Clovis, NM.

History

    On March 11, 2016, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to modify Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Portales Municipal 
Airport, Clovis, NM (81 FR 12847). 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 Order 7400.9Z, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 
2015, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 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 amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Portales Municipal Airport, Clovis, NM. With the 
decommissioning of the Portales NDB, removal of NDB approaches, and 
implementation of area navigation (RNAV) instrument approaches, the FAA 
is reducing the airspace from an 8-mile radius to a 6.6-mile radius of 
the airport in accordance with airspace requirements specified in FAA 
Joint Order 7400.2K. The geographic coordinates for Portales Municipal 
Airport are also being updated to coincide with 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.

Lists 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

0
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]

0
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 NM E5 Clovis, NM [Amended]

Clovis, Cannon AFB, NM
    (Lat. 34[deg]22'58'' N., long. 103[deg]19'20'' W.)
Portales Municipal Airport, NM
    (Lat. 34[deg]08'44'' N., long. 103[deg]24'37'' W.)
Texico VORTAC
    (Lat. 34[deg]29'42'' N., long. 102[deg]50'23'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 20-mile radius of Cannon AFB, and within a 6.6-mile radius 
of Portales Municipal Airport, and within 8 miles north and 4 miles 
south of the 072[deg] radial of the Texico VORTAC extending from the 
20-mile radius to 16 miles east of the VORTAC.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 25, 2016.
Walter Tweedy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-13145 Filed 6-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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