Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 1997 / Proposed Rules 47781

Docket No. 97–AGL–37, 2300 East

Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois

60018.

The official docket may be examined

in the Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Federal Aviation

Administration, 2300 East Devon

Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois. An

informal docket may also be examined

during normal business hours at the Air

Traffic Division, Operations Branch,

Federal Aviation Administration, 2300

East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michelle M. Behm, Air Traffic Division,

Airspace Branch, AGL–520, Federal

Aviation Administration, 2300 East

Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois

60018, telephone (847) 294–7568.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 the

airspace docket number 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 Airspace Docket No. 97–

AGL–37.’’ The postcard will be date/

time stamped and returned to the

commenter. All communications

received on or before the specified

closing date for comments will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposal contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of comments received. All comments

submitted will be available for

examination in the Rules Docket, FAA,

Great Lakes Region, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, 2300 East

Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois,

both before and after the closing date for

comments. A report summarizing each

substantive public contact with FAA

personnel concerned with this

rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM’s

Any person may obtain a copy of the

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)

by submitting a request to the Federal

Aviation Administration, Office of

Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry

Center, APA–230, 800 Independence

Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20591,

or by calling (202) 267–3484.

Communications must identify the

notice number of this NPRM. Persons

interested in being placed on a mailing

list for future NPRM’s should also

request a copy of Advisory Circular No.

11–2A, which describes the application

procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is considering an

amendment to part 71 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to

modify the legal description of the Class

E airspace at Aberdeen, SD, by removing

the statement which indicates less than

continuous times of operation for the

airspace. The legal description no longer

reflects the actual times of operation,

which are continuous. This action

would correct the legal description for

Class E airspace at Aberdeen, SD. Class

E airspace designations for airspace

areas designated as a surface area for an

airport are published in paragraph 6002

of FAA Order, 7400.9D, dated

September 4, 1996, and effective

September 16, 1996, which is

incorporated by reference in 14 CFR

71.1. The Class E airspace designation

listed in this document would be

published subsequently in the Order.

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.

Therefore this proposed 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 aviation, it is

certified that this proposed rule will not

have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities

under the criteria of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR part 71

Airspace, Incorporation by reference,

Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me, the Federal

Aviation Administration proposes to

amend part 71 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations (14 CFR part 71) as follows:

PART 71—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for 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.

§ 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in

14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation

Administration Order 7400.9D, Airspace

Designations and Reporting Points,

dated September 4, 1996, and effective

September 16, 1996, is amended as

follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace areas

designated as a surface area for an airport.

* * * * *

AGL SD E2 Aberdeen, SD [Revised]

Aberdeen Regional Airport, SD

(Lat. 45°26′56′′ N, long. 98°25′19′′ W)

Aberdeen VOR/DME

(Lat. 45°25′02′′ N, long. 98°22′07′′ W)

Within a 4.2-mile radius of Aberdeen

Regional Airport, and within 2.6 miles each

side of the Aberdeen VOR/DME 131° radial,

extending from the 4.2-mile radius to 7 miles

southeast of the VOR/DME, and within 1.7

miles each side of the Aberdeen VOR/DME

312° radial, extending from the 4.2-mile

radius to 7.8 miles northwest of the VOR/

DME.

* * * * *

Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois, on August

26, 1997.

Maureen Woods,

Manager, Air Traffic Division.

[FR Doc. 97–24100 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 96–ASW–30]

Proposed Modification to the Gulf of

Mexico High Offshore Airspace Area

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This action proposes to

amend the Gulf of Mexico High Offshore

Airspace Area. The proposed action

would extend the present airspace area

west and south to the boundary of the

Houston Air Route Traffic Control
47782 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 1997 / Proposed Rules

Center (ARTCC) Flight Information

Region/Control Area (FIR/CTA).

Additionally, this action proposes to

establish the vertical limits of the

proposed airspace area expansion from

Flight Level (FL) 280 up to and

including FL 600. This proposed action

would provide additional airspace in

which domestic air traffic procedures

would be used to separate and manage

aircraft. This change would result in the

enhanced utilization of that airspace.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before October 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the

proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air

Traffic Division, ASW–500, Docket No.

96–ASW–30, Federal Aviation

Administration, 2601 Meacham

Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193–0001.

The official docket may be examined

in the Rules Docket, Office of the Chief

Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC,

weekdays, except Federal holidays,

between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

An informal docket may also be

examined during normal business hours

at the office of the Regional Air Traffic

Division, Federal Aviation

Administration, 2601 Meacham

Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193–0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Patricia Crawford, Airspace and Rules

Division, ATA–400, Office of Air Traffic

Airspace Management, Federal Aviation

Administration, 800 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;

telephone: (202) 267–8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 the

airspace docket number 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 Airspace Docket No. 96–

ASW–30.’’ The postcard will be date/

time stamped and returned to the

commenter. All communications

received on or before the specified

closing date for comments will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposal contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of comments received. All comments

submitted will be available for

examination in the Rules Docket both

before and after the closing date for

comments. A report summarizing each

substantive public contact with FAA

personnel concerned with this

rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM’s

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

Federal Aviation Administration, Office

of Air Traffic Airspace Management,

800 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20591, or by calling

(202) 267–8783. Communications must

identify the notice number of this

NPRM. Persons interested in being

placed on a mailing list for future

NPRM’s should call the FAA’s Office of

Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, for a copy

of Advisory Circular No. 11–2A, Notice

of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution

System, which describes the application

procedure.

Background

On March 2, 1993, the Federal

Aviation Administration published a

final rule (58 FR 12128) which, in part,

redesignated certain control areas over

international waters as offshore airspace

areas. The redesignations were

necessary to comply with the Airspace

Reclassification final rule (56 FR 65638;

December 17, 1991).

One of the areas affected by the March

2, 1993, final rule was the Gulf of

Mexico Control Area. This area was

divided vertically into two areas, one of

which was redesignated as the Gulf of

Mexico High Offshore Airspace Area.

In June 1996 the Federal Aviation

Administration completed phase II of an

evaluation of the airspace over the Gulf

of Mexico. The evaluation was a

combined effort with representatives

from the FAA, Servicios a la Navegacion

en El Espacio Aereo Mexicano, and

other airspace users. The objective of

the evaluation was, in part, to identify

areas where air traffic services, air traffic

operations, and utilization of airspace

could be improved. One of the outcomes

of this evaluation was the determination

that system capacity would be enhanced

by modifying air traffic control (ATC)

procedures used to control aircraft

operations in the airspace over the Gulf

of Mexico. Currently, International Civil

Aviation Organization (ICAO) oceanic

ATC procedures are used to separate

and manage aircraft operations that

extend beyond the lateral boundary of

the existing Gulf of Mexico High

Offshore Airspace Area. Modifying the

Gulf of Mexico High Offshore Airspace

Area by extending the boundaries

further west and south of the current

location to the Houston ARTCC FIR/

CTA, would allow the application of

domestic ATC separation procedures

over a larger area. This proposal to

modify the offshore airspace area would

enhance system capacity and allow for

more efficient utilization of that

airspace.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment

to part 71 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to modify

the Gulf of Mexico High Offshore

Airspace Area, by extending the present

airspace area west and south to the

Houston ARTCC FIR/CTA. This

proposed modification would allow the

application of domestic ATC separation

procedures, in lieu of ICAO separation

procedures, enhancing system capacity,

and allowing for more efficient use of

the airspace. Offshore airspace area

designations are published in paragraph

2003 of FAA Order 7400.9D, dated

September 4, 1996, and effective

September 16, 1996, which is

incorporated by reference in 14 CFR

71.1. The offshore airspace area

designation listed in this document

would be published subsequently in the

Order. 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, will not have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities

under the criteria of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act.

ICAO Considerations

As part of this proposal relates to

navigable airspace outside the United

States, this notice is submitted in

accordance with the ICAO International

Standards and Recommended Practices.

The application of International

Standards and Recommended Practices

by the FAA, Office of Air Traffic
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 1997 / Proposed Rules 47783

Airspace Management, in areas outside

U.S. domestic airspace is governed by

the Convention on International Civil

Aviation. Specifically, the FAA is

governed by Article 12 and Annex 11,

which pertain to the establishment of

necessary air navigational facilities and

services to promote the safe, orderly,

and expeditious flow of civil air traffic.

The purpose of the document is to

ensure that civil aircraft operations on

international air routes are performed

under uniform conditions.

The International Standards and

Recommended Practices in Annex 11

apply to airspace under the jurisdiction

of a contracting state, derived from

ICAO. Annex 11 provisions apply when

air traffic services are provided and a

contracting state accepts the

responsibility of providing air traffic

services over high seas or in airspace of

undetermined sovereignty. A

contracting state accepting this

responsibility may apply the

International Standards and

Recommended Practices that are

consistent with standards and practices

utilized in its domestic jurisdiction.

In accordance with Article 3 of the

Convention, state owned aircraft are

exempt from the Standards and

Recommended Practices of Annex 11.

The United States is a contracting state

to the Convention. Article 3(d) of the

Convention provides that participating

state aircraft will be operated in

international airspace with due regard

for the safety of civil aircraft.

Since this action involves, in part, the

designation of navigable airspace

outside the United States, the

Administrator is consulting with the

Secretary of State and the Secretary of

Defense in accordance with the

provisions of Executive Order 10854.

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 part 71 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

part 71) as follows:

PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A,

CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND

CLASS E, AIRSPACE AREAS;

AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING

POINTS

1. The authority citation for 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.

§ 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in

14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal Aviation

Administration Order 7400.9D, Airspace

Designations and Reporting Points,

dated September 4, 1996, and effective

September 16, 1996, is amended as

follows:

Paragraph 2003—Offshore Airspace Areas

* * * * *

Gulf of Mexico High [Revised]

That airspace extending upward from

18,000 feet MSL to and including FL 600

bounded on the west, north, and east by a

line 12 miles offshore and parallel to the

Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and

Florida shorelines, and bounded on the south

from east to west by the southern boundary

of the Jacksonville ARTCC, Miami Oceanic

CTA/FIR, Houston CTA/FIR and lat.

26°00′006′′ N.; and that airspace extending

upward from FL 280 to and including FL 600

beginning at lat. 28°12′20′′ N., long.

95°24′20′′ W.; then clockwise to lat.

28°15′00′′ N., long. 94°00′00′′ W.; to lat.

28°15′00′′ N., long. 89°53′00′′ W.; to lat.

26°55′00′′ N., long. 89°35′00′′ W.; to lat.

26°21′00′′ N., long. 89°30′00′′ W.; to lat.

24°58′00′′ N., long. 89°17′30′′ W.; to lat.

24°30′00′′ N., long. 89°14′00′′ W.; to lat.

24°30′00′′ N., long. 93°00′00′′ W.; to lat.

25°23′00′′ N., long. 94°42′00′′ W.; to lat.

26°00′00′′ N., long. 95°55′00′′ W.; to lat.

26°00′00′′ N., long. 95°59′00′′ W.; to lat.

26°04′45′′ N., long. 95°56′49′′ W.; to lat.

26°52′00′′ N., long. 95°35′00′′ W.; to lat.

27°38′00′′ N., long. 95°35′00′′ W.; to lat.

28°00′00′′ N., long. 95°27′00′′ W. to point of

beginning.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on September 3,

1997.

John S. Walker,

Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace

Management.

[FR Doc. 97–24102 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Parts 1000, 1003, and 1005

[Docket No. FR–4170–N–13]

Native American Housing Assistance

and Self-Determination Negotiated

Rulemaking Committee; Meetings

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Public and Indian

Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Negotiated Rulemaking

Committee meetings.

SUMMARY: This document announces a

series of negotiated rulemaking

meetings sponsored by HUD to develop

the final regulations necessary to carry

out the Native American Housing

Assistance and Self-Determination Act

of 1996 (NAHASDA) (Pub. L. 104–330,

approved October 30, 1996).

DATES: The meetings will be held on:

September 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, 1997.

The meetings will begin at

approximately 9:00 am and end at

approximately 5:00 pm on each day,

local time.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at

the Sheraton National Hotel, 900 Orne

Street, Arlington, VA 22204; telephone

(703) 521–1900 (this is not a toll-free

number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Garner-Wing, Acting Deputy

Assistant Secretary for Native American

Programs, Department of Housing and

Urban Development, 1999 Broadway,

Suite 3390, Denver, Co; telephone (303)

675–1600 (this is not a toll-free

number). Hearing or speech-impaired

individuals may access this number via

TTY by calling the toll-free Federal

Information Relay Service at 1–800–

877–8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Secretary of HUD established the Native

American Housing Assistance and SelfDetermination Negotiated Rulemaking

Committee (Committee) to negotiate and

develop a proposed rule implementing

NAHASDA. The proposed rule was

published on July 2, 1997 (62 FR 35718)

and provided for a 45-day public

comment period. The public comment

deadline was August 18, 1997.

The Committee met from August 22–

29, 1997 in Denver Colorado to consider

the public comments submitted on the

July 2, 1997 proposed rule. This notice

announces an additional series of

negotiated rulemaking meetings. The

Committee is meeting to further

consider the public comments and to

approve the draft regulatory language

developed by the individual Committee

workgroups at the August 22–29, 1997

meetings.

The meeting dates are: September 22,

23, 24, 25, and 26, 1997.

The agenda planned for the meetings

includes: (1) Discussion of the

significant issues raised by the public

commenters; (2) development of

responses to the comments; and (3)

review of the draft regulatory language

developed by the individual Committee

workgroups at the August 22–29, 1997

Denver meetings.

The meetings will be open to the

public without advance registration.

Public attendance may be limited to the

space available. Members of the public

may make statements during the

meeting, to the extent time permits, and

file written statements with the

Committee for its consideration. Written