[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58930-58931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28942]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-ASO-23]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; St. Elmo, AL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to establish Class E airspace at St. 
Elmo, AL. A Global Positioning System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 6 Standard 
Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) has been developed for St. Elmo 
Airport. As a result, controlled airspace extending upward from 700 
feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to accommodate the SIAP and for 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at St. Elmo Airport. The 
operation status of the airport will change from Visual Flight Rules 
(VFR) to include IFR operations concurrent with the publication of the 
SIAP.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Docket No. 97-ASO-23, Manager, Airspace 
Branch, ASO-520, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel for Southern Region, Room 550, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; telephone (404) 305-5586.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy B. Shelton, Airspace Branch, Air 
Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 20636, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-5491.

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-
ASO-23.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter. All communications received 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 the comments received. All comments submitted will be 
available for examination in the Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel 
for Southern Region, Room 550, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, 
Georgia 30337, 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 NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, 
Manager, Airspace Branch, ASO-520, Air Traffic Division, P.O. 20636, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30320. Communications must identify the notice number 
of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for 
future NPRMs 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 14 CFR part 71 to establish 
Class E airspace at St. Elmo, AL. A GPS RWY 6 SIAP has been developed 
for St. Elmo Airport. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 
feet AGL is needed to accommodate the SIAP and for IFR operations at 
St. Elmo Airport. The operating status of the airport will change from 
VFR to include IFR operations concurrent with the publication of the 
SIAP. Class E airspace designations for airspace areas extending upward 
from 700 feet or more above the surface are published in Paragraph 6005 
of FAA Order 7400.9E dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 
16, 1997, 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. 
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.

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, 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.


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

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

[[Page 58931]]

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

* * * * *

ASO AL E5 St. Elm, AL [New]

St. Elmo Airport, AL
    (lat. 30 deg.30'07'' N, long. 88 deg.16'30'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of St. Elmo Airport
* * * * *
    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on September 17, 1997.
Nancy B. Shelton,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southern Region.
[FR Doc. 97-28942 Filed 10-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M