[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59783-59784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29195]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AGL-59]


Modification of Class D Airspace; Minot, ND

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action reinstates controlled airspace extending upward 
from the surface at Minot Air Force Base (AFB), ND. The airspace areas 
are necessary to accommodate precision standard instrument approach 
procedures (SIAP) serving Minot AFB. The affected airspace, formerly 
surface area extensions to the Minot AFB Control Zone, was 
inadvertently omitted from United States controlled airspace during 
Airspace Reclassification in 1993. This action corrects that omission.

DATES: Effective date: November 5, 1997.

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) 294-7573.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by reinstating controlled 
airspace extending upward from the surface at Minot AFB, ND. The 
affected airspace, formerly surface area extensions to the Minot AFB 
Control Zone, was inadvertently omitted from United States controlled 
airspace during Airspace Reclassification in 1993. This action corrects 
that error.
    Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 7400.6G, dated 
September 4, 1990, and now obsolete, described a Control Zone serving 
Minot AFB which consisted of a circle with a 5 Statute Mile (SM) radius 
and two extensions, one to the southeast and one to the northwest, each 
of which was 5 SM wide and extended from the radius to 7 SM southeast 
and northwest respectively of the Deering Tactical Air Navigation 
(TACAN) facility. The Deering TACAN is located near the center of the 5 
SM radius circle. The Minot AFB Control Zone, as described in FAA Order 
7400.6G, was established by a final rule published in the Federal 
Register on August 12, 1970 (35 FR 12751).
    In accordance with the Airspace Reclassification final rule 
published December 17, 1991, and effective September 16, 1993 (56 FR 
65638), distances were converted from SM to Nautical Miles (NM), and 
Control Zones were generally redesignated as Class D airspace areas, 
and most Control Zone extensions were redesignated as Class E airspace 
areas.
    In preparation for Airspace Reclassification, the FAA redrafted the 
legal descriptions of all airspace areas under United States 
jurisdiction. Part of this process involved dividing Control Zones into 
Class D and E airspace areas where necessary. In redrafting the legal 
description for the Minot AFB Control Zone, the FAA redesignated the 5 
SM-radius circle as a 4.5 NM-radius Class D airspace area. The FAA did 
not, however, redesignate the Control Zone extensions as Class E 
airspace areas. This omission was unintentional as the surface area 
extensions remained, and continue to be, necessary to accommodate 
SIAP's serving Minot AFB. The FAA has never purposely and affirmatively 
acted to revoke the controlled airspace.
    The fact that the Control Zone extensions were not redesignated as 
Class E airspace, and that consequently the affected areas are 
currently Class G airspace, was discovered in a recent joint FAA/Air 
Force review of the airspace requirements for Minot AFB. As a result of 
the discovery, the FAA and the Air Force have been forced to 
discontinue use of all precision SIAP's serving Minot AFB pending 
reinstatement of the controlled airspace areas.
    The precision SIAP's at Minot AFB serve important flight safety and 
national security interests. Airspace standards, however, require that 
the SIAP's be contained entirely within controlled airspace. The FAA 
finds that the safety and national security concerns created by the 
lack of a precision SIAP at Minot AFB, combined with the fact that the 
agency did not intend to permit the affected airspace to revert to 
uncontrolled status, makes notice and public procedure under 5 U.S.C 
553(b) impractical and contrary to the public interest. Furthermore, 
for the reasons listed above, the FAA finds that good cause exists, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d), to make this amendment effective in less 
than 30 days.
    The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. Class D airspace designations are published in 
Paragraph 5000 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 D airspace designations listed in this document will 
be published subsequently in the Order. Under the circumstances 
presented, the FAA concludes that there is an immediate need to modify 
these Class D airspace areas in order to promote the safe and efficient 
handling of air traffic in these areas.
    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 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 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).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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.


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

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

Paragraph 5000  Class D Airspace

* * * * *

[[Page 59784]]

AGL ND D Minot AFB, ND [Revised]

Minot AFB, ND
    (lat. 48 deg.24'56''N, long. 101 deg.21'28''W)
Deering TACAN
    (lat. 48 deg.24'54''N, long. 101 deg.21'54''W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
4,200 feet MSL within a 4.5-mile radius of Minot AFB, and within 2.2 
miles each side of the Deering TACAN 113 deg. radial extending from 
the 4.5-mile radius to 6.1 miles southeast of the TACAN, and within 
2.2 miles each side of the Deering TACAN 303 deg. radial, extending 
from the 4.5-mile radius to 6.1 miles northwest of the TACAN. This 
Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and 
times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective 
dates and times will thereafter be continuously published in the 
Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *
    Issued in Des Plaines Illinois on October 14, 1997.
Maureen Woods,


Manager, Air Traffic Division.

[FR Doc. 97-29195 Filed 11-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M