67268 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 24, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

Issued in College Park, Georgia, on

December 2, 1997.

Nancy B. Shelton,

Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division,

Southern Region.

[FR Doc. 97–33620 Filed 12–23–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 96–ASO–5]

RIN 2120–AA66

Amendment to Time of Designation for

Restricted Areas; GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This action amends the time

of designation for Restricted Areas R–

3008A, R–3008B, R–3008C, and R–

3008D, Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA,

by expanding the time frame during

which the areas may be activated

without prior issuance of a Notice to

Airmen (NOTAM). The United States

Air Force (USAF) requested this

amendment to reflect its actual night

flying requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, February 26,

1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

Gallant, 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:

Background

On August 30, 1996, the FAA

proposed to amend 14 CFR part 73 (part

73) to change the core hours of

designation for Restricted Areas R–

3008A, R–3008B, R–3008C, and R–

3008D, Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA,

from 0700–1900 local time, Monday–

Friday to 0700–2200 local time,

Monday–Friday (61 FR 45920).

Interested parties were invited to

participate in this rulemaking effort by

submitting written comments on the

proposal. Two comments were received

by the FAA, both objecting to the

proposal on the grounds that the change

would constitute an expansion of

military operations and a reduction of

access for civil airspace users.

Currently, the using agency has the

option of activating the restricted areas

at any time outside the existing ‘‘core

hours’’ of 0700–1900 local time,

provided a NOTAM is issued the

required 6 hours in advance. The

current published times, however, do

not adequately reflect the actual night

flying mission of the USAF 347th Wing.

This change is intended to better

accommodate the Wing’s actual night

flying requirements. No increase in the

use of the range is anticipated.

Therefore, the purpose of this rule is to

amend the time of designation to more

accurately indicate to the flying public

the actual use of the restricted areas. A

NOTAM will still be required in order

to activate the restricted areas between

the hours of 2200 and 0700 local time.

Despite this change, the restricted

areas will continue to be operated on a

real-time, joint-use basis with the

airspace being returned to the

controlling agency (Valdosta Approach

Control) and available for access by

nonparticipating aircraft during periods

when the restricted areas are not needed

by the using agency.

The Rule

This amendment to part 73 changes

the core hours of designation for

Restricted Areas R–3008A, R–3008B, R–

3008C, and R–3008D from 0700–1900

local time, Monday–Friday to 0700–

2200 local time, Monday–Friday. The

action expands, by three hours daily,

the ‘‘core hours’’ during which the

restricted areas may be activated

without prior issuance of a NOTAM. As

amended, a NOTAM will no longer be

required for activation of the restricted

areas between 1900 and 2200 local time.

The using agency currently has the

option of activating the restricted areas

between 1900 and 0700 local time

provided a NOTAM is issued the

required 6 hours in advance. However,

the 347th Wing’s night flying missions

using R–3008 routinely extend past

1900 local time, but are normally

terminated by 2200 local time. This

requires the daily issuance of NOTAM’s

to permit activation of the areas between

1900 and 2200. This amendment of the

time of designation will provide better

notice to the flying public of the routine

times of use of the restricted areas. A

NOTAM will still be required prior to

any usage between 2200 and 0700 local

time.

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. Therefore, 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)

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.

Section 73.30 of 14 CFR part 73 was

republished in FAA Order 7400.8E,

dated November 7, 1997.

Environmental Review

The USAF prepared an

Environmental Assessment (EA) and an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

of the composite wing beddown at

Moody AFB, Georgia. The EA and EIS

studied the impact of aircraft operations

during both day (0700–2200) and night

(2200–0700) time frames, including the

use of R–3008A, R–3008B, R–3008C,

and R–3008D. The USAF’s record of

decision to base the composite wing at

Moody AFB took into account the use

of R–3008 between 1900 and 2200, and

concluded that use of the restricted

areas during this time frame did not

constitute a significant impact. The

utilization figures for this amendment

are the same as those used in the EIS for

the beddown. Based on the results of the

EA and EIS accomplished for the

composite wing beddown, the USAF

determined that this amendment to the

restricted area time of designation

qualifies for a categorical exclusion. The

FAA has reviewed the USAF’s

environmental documentation and

concludes that this action is

categorically excluded in accordance

with FAA Order 1050.1D and the FAA/

DOD Memorandum of Understanding of

1989 regarding Special Use Airspace

actions.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

Airspace, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the

Federal Aviation Administration

amends 14 CFR part 73, as follows:

PART 73—SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

1. The authority citation for part 73

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.

§ 73.30 [Amended]

2. § 73.30 is amended as follows:

* * * * *
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 24, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 67269

R–3008A Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

[Amended]

By removing ‘‘Time of designation. 0700–

1900 local time, Monday–Friday; other times

by NOTAM 6 hours in advance,’’ and

inserting ‘‘Time of designation. 0700–2200

local time, Monday–Friday; other times by

NOTAM 6 hours in advance.’’

R–3008B Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

[Amended]

By removing ‘‘Time of designation. 0700–

1900 local time, Monday–Friday; other times

by NOTAM 6 hours in advance,’’ and

inserting ‘‘Time of designation. 0700–2200

local time, Monday–Friday; other times by

NOTAM 6 hours in advance.’’

R–3008C Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

[Amended]

By removing ‘‘Time of designation. 0700–

1900 local time, Monday–Friday; other times

by NOTAM 6 hours in advance,’’ and

inserting ‘‘Time of designation. 0700–2200

local time, Monday–Friday; other times by

NOTAM 6 hours in advance.’’

R–3008D Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

[Amended]

By removing ‘‘Time of designation. 0700–

1900 local time, Monday–Friday; other times

by NOTAM 6 hours in advance,’’ and

inserting ‘‘Time of designation. 0700–2200

local time, Monday–Friday; other times by

NOTAM 6 hours in advance.’’

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 4,

1997.

Reginald C. Matthews,

Acting Program Director for Air Traffic

Airspace Management.

[FR Doc. 97–33617 Filed 12–23–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 97–ASO–8]

RIN 2120–AA66

Revocation and Modification of

Restricted Areas; FL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This action revokes Restricted

Area R–2931, Cape Canaveral, FL, and

modifies Restricted Areas R–2932 and

R–2933 to absorb R–2931. The FAA is

taking this action in response to a

written notification from the U.S. Air

Force that R–2931 is no longer

necessary to support an Air Force

mission requirement.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, February 26,

1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

Gallant, 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:

Background

Restricted Area R–2931 was

established on January 19, 1984, to

contain a tethered aerostat balloon

which was installed to enhance air

defense surveillance and warning. In

order to lessen the burden to the flying

public, R–2931 was established entirely

within two existing restricted areas, R–

2924 and R–2925. Effective May 5, 1988,

Restricted Areas R–2924 and R–2925

were redesignated as R–2932 and R–

2933 as part of an effort to reconfigure

and simplify the Cape Canaveral

restricted airspace complex (53 FR 6796;

March 3, 1988). The U.S. Air Force has

notified the FAA that the aerostat

operation has now been terminated at

this location and that, consequently, R–

2931 is no longer required for that

purpose. The airspace of R–2931 will be

reincorporated into the existing

Restricted Areas R–2932 and R–2933.

The Rule

This amendment to 14 CFR part 73

(part 73) revokes Restricted Area R–

2931, and modifies R–2932 and R–2933

to absorb R–2931. In addition, this

amendment corrects a minor error in

one of the R–2932 boundary

coordinates. Although R–2932 and R–

2933 were established with coincident

boundaries, one coordinate in the R–

2932 description differs by one second

of longitude from the same coordinate

in R–2933. This error occurred when the

FAA converted all positional data used

in the National Airspace System from

North American Datum (NAD) 27 to

NAD 83 (57 FR 201). During the

conversion process, the required

correction factor was inadvertently not

applied to that one position.

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. Therefore, 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)

does not warrant preparation of a

regulatory evaluation as the anticipated

impact is so minimal.

Since this action simply redefines

existing restricted area airspace, and

does not involve a change in the overall

dimensions or operating requirements of

that airspace, the FAA finds that notice

and public procedure under 5 U.S.C.

553(b) are unnecessary.

Section 73.29 of 14 CFR part 73 was

republished in FAA Order 7400.8E,

dated November 7, 1997.

Environmental Review

This action is a minor administrative

change that redefines existing restricted

airspace. Since R–2931 is totally

imbedded within airspace already

designated as restricted, there is no

change to either the amount of restricted

airspace or to any air traffic control

procedures or routes as a result of this

action.

Therefore, this action is not subject to

environmental assessments and

procedures under FAA Order 1050.1D,

‘‘Policies and Procedures for

Considering Environmental Impacts,’’

and the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

Airspace, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the

Federal Aviation Administration

amends 14 CFR part 73, as follows:

PART 73—SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

1. The authority citation for part 73

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.

§ 73.29 [Amended]

2. § 73.29 is amended as follows:

* * * * *

R–2931 Cape Canaveral, FL [Removed]

R–2932 Cape Canaveral, FL [Amended]

By removing ‘‘long. 80°35′00′′W.;’’ and

adding ‘‘long. 80°34′59′′W.;’’ in its place; and

by removing the words, ‘‘excluding the area

within a 2-statute-mile radius circle centered

at lat. 28°27′55′′N., long. 80°32′06′′W.’’

R–2933 Cape Canaveral, FL [Amended]

By removing the words, ‘‘excluding the

area within a 2-statute-mile radius circle

centered at lat. 28°27′55′′N., long.

80°32′06′′W.’’

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 9,

1997.

Reginald C. Matthews,

Acting Program Director for Air Traffic

Airspace Management.

[FR Doc. 97–33622 Filed 12–23–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P