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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11421-11423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01021]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1063; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASO-25]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of Restricted Areas R-3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-
3008D; Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the time of designation for restricted 
areas R-3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-3008D; Grand Bay Weapons Range, 
GA, by expanding the timeframe during which the areas may be activated 
without prior issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The expansion of 
the published designated times for these restricted areas reflects 
their routine actual use. This change better informs the flying public 
of actual routine use periods of the restricted areas and reduces NOTAM 
System workload.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, April 22, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence

[[Page 11422]]

Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

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 
the 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 restricted areas R-3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and 
R-3008D; Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA, by expanding the timeframe during 
which the areas may be activated reducing the need for the using agency 
to issue NOTAMs when necessary to activate the restricted areas outside 
the published ``core hours.''

Background

    The published time of designation for restricted areas R-3008A, R-
3008B, R-3008C, and R-3008D is ``0700-2200 local time, Monday-Friday; 
other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance.'' For many years, the using 
agency has routinely extended use of the restricted areas past the 
designated 2200 local time (as authorized by the NOTAM provision). To 
exercise this provision, the using agency must issue NOTAMs daily in 
order to activate the airspace beyond the published ``core hours'' 
(i.e., 0700-2200 local time). Amending the time of designation to match 
the routine, actual usage of the airspace reduces NOTAM System workload 
and better informs the flying public of expected times the restricted 
areas will be active.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2013-1063 in the Federal Register (79 FR 6504; February 4, 2014), 
amending the time of designation for restricted areas R-3008A, R-3008B, 
R-3008C, and R-3008D; Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. Two comments 
were received. Both commenters expressed support for the proposal.

Differences From the NPRM

    The NPRM proposed to change the time of designation of restricted 
areas R-3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-3008D from ``0700-2200 local 
time, Monday-Friday; other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance,'' to 
``0800-0130 local time, Monday-Thursday; 0700-2200 local time Friday; 
other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance.'' This rule amends the time of 
designation for Friday to read ``0800-2200 local time; other times by 
NOTAM 6 hours in advance.''

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 73 by changing the time of designation for restricted areas R-
3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-3008D from ``0700-2200 local time, 
Monday-Friday; other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance,'' to ``0800-
0130 local time, Monday-Thursday; 0800-2200 Friday; other times by 
NOTAM 6 hours in advance.'' The change captures the vast majority of 
the routine operations currently occurring in the restricted areas. The 
amendment provides more accurate notice to the flying public of when to 
expect that the restricted areas will be in use. Additionally, it 
reduces the using agency's workload by eliminating the need to issue 
daily NOTAMs for routine operations.

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. 
It, therefore: (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 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 of amending the time of 
designation for restricted areas R-3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-
3008D; Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA, to match the times that the areas 
are routinely activated outside the ``core hours'' through the issuance 
of a NOTAM qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National 
Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR 
part 1500, and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental 
Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-6.5c, actions to return 
all or part of special use airspace (SUA) to the National Airspace 
System (NAS), such as revocation of airspace, a decrease in dimensions, 
or a reduction in times of use (e.g., from continuous to intermittent, 
or use by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)). As such, this action is not 
expected to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts. In 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding 
Extraordinary Circumstances, the FAA has reviewed this action for 
factors and circumstances in which a normally categorically excluded 
action may have a significant environmental impact requiring further 
analysis. The FAA has determined that no extraordinary circumstances 
exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment or 
environmental impact study.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

    Airspace, Prohibited areas, Restricted areas.

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 14 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

0
1. The authority citation for part 73 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.  73.30  Georgia (Amended)

0
2. Sec.  73.30 is amended as follows:
* * * * *

R-3008A, Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA [Amended]

    By removing the current time of designation and inserting the 
following in its place:
    Time of designation. 0800-0130 local time Monday-Thursday; 0800-
2200 local time Friday; other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance.

R-3008B, Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA [Amended]

    By removing the current time of designation and inserting the 
following in its place:
    Time of designation. 0800-0130 local time Monday-Thursday; 0800-
2200 local time Friday; other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance.

[[Page 11423]]

R-3008C, Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA [Amended]

    By removing the current time of designation and inserting the 
following in its place:
    Time of designation. 0800-0130 local time Monday-Thursday; 0800-
2200 local time Friday; other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance.

R-3008D, Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA [Amended]

    By removing the current time of designation and inserting the 
following in its place:
    Time of designation. 0800-0130 local time Monday-Thursday; 0800-
2200 local time Friday; other times by NOTAM 6 hours in advance.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2021.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-01021 Filed 2-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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