[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37776-37778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16480]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0348; Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-4]
RIN-2120-AA66


Proposed Modification of Class E Airspace for the Following 
Alaska Towns; Nuiqsut, AK; Perryville, AK; Pilot Point, AK; and Point 
Lay, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface in Alaska at Nuiqsut Airport; 
Oooguruk Island Heliport Nuiqsut; Pioneer Heliport, Nuiqsut; Perryville 
Airport; Pilot Point Airport; and Point Lay Airport. This proposal 
would add exclusionary language to the legal descriptions of these 
airports to exclude Class E airspace extending beyond 12 miles from the 
shoreline, and would ensure the safety and management of aircraft 
within the National Airspace System. Also, this action would remove the 
heliport name from the airspace designation of Oooguruk Island Heliport 
and Pioneer Heliport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2017-0348; Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-4, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11B at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to 
https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 2200 
S. 216th St., Des Moines, WA, 98198-6547; telephone (206) 231-2245.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's 
authority. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described 
in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, 
the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of 
airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient 
use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority 
as it would amend Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet 
above the surface at Nuiqsut Airport, Oooguruk Island Heliport, Pioneer 
Heliport, Perryville Airport, Pilot Point Airport, Point Hope Airport, 
Point Lay Airport, and Port Heiden Airport, AK, to support IFR 
operations in standard instrument approach and departure procedures at 
these airports.

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 both docket numbers and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Persons wishing the FAA to

[[Page 37777]]

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 Docket No. FAA-2017-0348; 
Airspace Docket No. 17-AAL-4''. 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. A report summarizing each substantive public contact 
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at  http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the address and phone number) 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S. 216th St., Des Moines, WA, 
98198-6547.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective 
September 15, 2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by modifying Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Nuiqsut Airport, Nuiqsut, 
AK; Oooguruk Island Heliport, Nuiqsut, AK; Pioneer Heliport, Nuiqsut, 
AK; Perryville Airport, Perryville, AK; Pilot Point Airport, Pilot 
Point, AK; and Point Lay Airport, Point Lay, AK. This action would add 
language to the legal descriptions of these airports that reads 
``excluding that airspace that extends beyond 12 miles from the 
shoreline.''
    Also, this action would remove the airport name from the airspace 
designation for Oooguruk Island Heliport and Pioneer Heliport, to 
conform with recent change to FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures for 
Handling Airspace Matters.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 
2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E 
airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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, 
and is non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative 
comments. 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, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    This proposal would be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

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 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as 
follows:

     Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 
10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11B, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and 
effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 1,200 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Nuiqsut AK [Amended]

Nuiqsut Airport, AK
    (Lat. 70[deg]12'35'' N, long. 151[deg]00'23'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of the Nuiqsut Airport, and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 73-mile 
radius of Nuiqsut Airport, excluding that airspace which overlies 
Control 1485L, and excluding that airspace that extends beyond 12 
miles of the shoreline.

AAL AK E5 Nuiqsut, AK [Amended]

Oooguruk Island Heliport, AK
    (Lat. 70[deg]29'44'' N, long. 150[deg]15'12'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6-mile radius of Oooguruk Island Heliport; and that 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 
73-mile radius of Oooguruk Island Heliport, excluding that airspace 
that extends beyond 12 miles of the shoreline.

AAL AK E5 Nuiqsut, AK [Amended]

Pioneer Heliport, AK
    (Lat. 70[deg]24'51'' N, long. 150[deg]01'07'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6-mile radius of Pioneer Heliport; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 73-mile 
radius of Pioneer Heliport, excluding that airspace that extends 
beyond 12 miles of the shoreline.
* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Perryville, AK [Amended]

Perryville Airport, AK
    (Lat. 55[deg]54'24'' N, long. 159[deg]09'39'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 14.7-mile radius of Perryville Airport; and that airspace 
east of long. 160[deg]00'00'' W extending upward from 1,200 feet 
above the surface within an 81.2-mile radius of Perryville Airport, 
excluding that airspace that extends beyond 12 miles of the 
shoreline.
* * * * *

[[Page 37778]]

AAL AK E5 Pilot Point, AK [Amended]

Pilot Point Airport, AK
    (Lat. 57[deg]34'49'' N, long. 157[deg]34'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.3-mile radius of Pilot Point Airport; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within an area 
bounded by lat. 57[deg]51'00'' N, long. 158[deg]03'00'' W, to lat. 
57[deg]51'00'' N, long. 157[deg]05'00'' W, to lat. 57[deg]24'45'' N, 
long. 157[deg]05'00'' W, to lat. 57[deg]24'45'' N, long. 
158[deg]03'00'' W, to the point of beginning, excluding that 
airspace that extends beyond 12 miles of the shoreline.
* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Point Lay, AK [Amended]

Point Lay Airport, AK
    (Lat. 69[deg]43'58'' N, long. 163[deg]00'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8-mile radius of Point Lay Airport; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 46-mile 
radius of the Point Lay Airport, excluding that airspace that 
extends beyond 12 miles from the shoreline.
* * * * *

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on July 25, 2018.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2018-16480 Filed 8-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P