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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34855-34856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14810]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1074; Airspace Docket No. 14-ASW-10]

Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; El Paso, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at El Paso, TX. 
The closure of West Texas Airport has made this action necessary for 
continued safety and management within the National Airspace System. 
Additionally, the geographic coordinates for El Paso International 
Airport and Biggs Army Airfield (AAF) would be adjusted.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 3, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
telephone (202) 366-9826. You must identify the docket number FAA-2014-
1074/Airspace Docket No. 14-ASW-10, at the beginning of your comments. 
You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. You may review the public docket containing the 
proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in 
the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office telephone 1-800-647-
5527 is on the ground floor of the building at the above address.
    FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. The Order is also available for inspection 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material 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, you can contact the Airspace Policy and Regulations Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: 202-267-8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Shelby, Central Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone: 
817-321-7740.

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 West Texas Airport, El Paso, TX.

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking 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 and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2014-1074 and

[[Page 34856]]

Airspace Docket No. 14-ASW-10.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at 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 proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the office of the Central Service Center, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs 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.

Availability and Summary of Documents Proposed for Incorporation by 
Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and effective 
September 15, 2014. FAA Order 7400.9Y is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.9Y lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR), Part 71 by removing Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface at West Texas Airport, El Paso, 
TX. This action is necessary due to the closure of the airport; 
therefore controlled airspace is no longer needed. Additionally, 
geographic coordinates for El Paso International Airport, would be 
changed from (lat. 31[deg]48'24'' N., long. 106[deg]22'40'' W.) to 
(lat. 31[deg]50'59'' N., long. 106[deg]22'48'' W.); and Biggs AAF 
coordinates would be changed from (lat. 31[deg]50'58'' N., long. 
106[deg]22'48'' W.) to (lat. 31[deg]50'59'' N., long. 106[deg]22'48'' 
W.). These minor adjustments would reflect the current information in 
the FAA's aeronautical database.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005, of 
FAA Order 7400.9Y, dated August 6, 2014, and effective September 15, 
2014, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E 
airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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 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.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (Air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, 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

0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 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 7400.9Y, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and 
effective September 15, 2014 is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

14ASW TX E5 El Paso, TX [Amended]

Biggs AAF, (Fort Bliss)
    (lat. 31[deg]50'59'' N., long. 106[deg]22'48'' W.).
El Paso International Airport, TX
    (lat. 31[deg]48'26'' N., long. 106[deg]22'35'' W.)
El Paso VORTAC
    (lat. 31[deg]48'57'' N., long. 106[deg]16'55'' W.).

    Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface within a 9.1-mile radius of Biggs AAF, and within a 8.4-mile 
radius of El Paso International Airport, and within 2 miles each 
side of the 050[deg] bearing from El Paso International Airport 
extending from the 8.4-mile radius to 13 miles northeast of the 
airport, and within 1.6 miles each side of the 093[deg] radial of 
the El Paso VORTAC extending from the 8.4-mile radius to 7.3 miles 
east of the VORTAC.

    Issued in Fort Worth, TX on June 9, 2015.
Robert W. Beck,
Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2015-14810 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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