[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64269-64271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31930]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-ASW-21]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; New Braunfels Municipal, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment modifies the Class E airspace at San Antonio, 
TX. The development of Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard 
Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) to runways (RWY) 13 and 17 and a 
Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring 
Equipment (DME)-A SIAP at New Braunfels Municipal Airport, TX, has made 
this rule necessary. This action is intended to provide adequate 
additional controlled airspace extending from 700 feet or more above 
the surface for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at New 
Braunfels Municipal Airport, New Braunfels, TX.

DATES: Effective date: 0901 UTC, February 26, 1998.
    Comment date: Comments must be received on or before January 20, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule in triplicate to Manager, Airspace 
Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Southwest Region, Docket No. 97-ASW-21, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0520.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation

[[Page 64270]]

Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Room 663, Fort Worth, TX, 
between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Southwest Region, Room 414, Fort Worth, TX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald J. Day, Airspace Branch, Air 
Traffic Division, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Fort Worth, TX 76193-0520, telephone 817-222-5593.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 amends the 
Class E airspace at New Braunfels, TX. The development of GPS SIAP's to 
RWY 13 and RWY 17 and a VOR/DME-A SIAP at New Braunfels Municipal 
Airport, TX, has made this action necessary. The intended effect of 
this action is to provide additional controlled airspace extending 700 
feet or more above the surface for aircraft executing the GPS SIAPs to 
RWYs 13 and 17 and a VOR/DME-A SIAP at New Braunfels Municipal Airport, 
New Braunfels, TX.
    Class E airspace designations 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 will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse 
or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule. 
Previous opportunities provided to the public to comment on 
substantially identical actions have resulted in negligible adverse 
comments or objections. Unless a written adverse or negative comment, 
or a written notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment 
is received within the comment period, the regulation will become 
effective on the date specified above. After the close of the comment 
period, the FAA will publish a document in the Federal Register 
indicating that no adverse or negative comments were received and 
confirming the date on which the final rule will become effective. If 
the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an adverse or negative 
comment, or written notice of intent to submit such a comment, a 
document withdrawing the direct final rule will be published in the 
Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking may be published 
with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not 
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of 
the comments received. Factual information that supports the 
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action is needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the rule that 
might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
action will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 97-ASW-21.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    Further, the FAA has determined that this regulation is 
noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments 
and only involves an established body of technical regulations that 
require frequent and routine amendments to keep them operationally 
current. Therefore, I certify that this 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) will not have a significant 
economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small 
entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Since 
this rule involves routine matters that will only affect air traffic 
procedures and air navigation, it does not warrant preparation of a 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis because the anticipated impact is so 
minimal.

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5--San Antonio, TX [Revised]

San Antonio International Airport, TX
    (Lat. 29 deg.32'01'' N., long. 98 deg.28'11'' W.)
New Braunfels Municipal, TX
    (Lat. 29 deg.42'11'' N., long. 98 deg.02'28'' W.)
San Antonio VORTAC
    (Lat. 29 deg.38'39'' N., long. 98 deg.27'41'' W.)
Randolph VOR
    (Lat. 29 deg.38'39'' N., long. 98 deg.17'06'' W.)
Stinson VOR
    (Lat. 29 deg.15'30'' N., long. 98 deg.26'37'' W.)
Castroville Municipal, TX
    (Lat. 29 deg.20'33'' N., long. 98 deg.51'04'' W.)
Castroville RBN
    (Lat. 29 deg.20'46'' N., long. 98 deg.50'57'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 20-mile radius of San Antonio International Airport and 
within 6.9-mile radius of New Braunfels Municipal Airport and within 
1.6 miles each side of the 080 deg. radial of the San Antonio VORTAC 
extending from the 6.9-mile radius to 11.2 miles east of the New 
Braunfels Municipal Airport and within 4 miles each side of the 
316 deg. bearing from New Braunfels

[[Page 64271]]

Municipal Airport extending from the 6.9-mile radius to 9.7 miles 
north of the airport and within 3 miles each side of the 331 deg. 
bearing from New Braunfels Municipal Airport extending from the 6.9-
mile radius to 9.7 miles northwest of the airport and within 4 miles 
each side of the 080 deg. radial of the San Antonio VORTAC extending 
from the 6.9-mile radius to 9.7 miles east of the New Braunfels 
Municipal Airport and within 8 miles east and 4 miles west of the 
144 deg. radial of the Randolph VOR extending from the 20-mile 
radius to 20.6 miles southeast of the VOR and within 8 miles east 
and 4 miles west of the 152 deg. radial of the Stinson VOR extending 
from the 20-mile radius to 16 miles south of the VOR and within a 
6.5-mile radius of Castroville Municipal Airport and within 8 miles 
west and 4 miles east of the 170 deg. bearing from the Castroville 
RBN extending from the RBN to 16 miles south of the RBN.
* * * * *
    Issued in Fort Worth, TX, on November 5, 1997.
Albert L. Viselli,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 97-31930 Filed 12-4-97; 8:45 am]
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