[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 241 (Monday, December 18, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 87375-87377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27670]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1801; Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-33]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class E Airspace; Klawock Airport, Klawock, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface and remove the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Klawock Airport, 
Klawock, AK. Additionally, this action proposes administrative 
amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal 
description. These actions would support the safety and management of 
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-1801 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-33 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department 
of

[[Page 87376]]

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West Building 
Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith T Adams, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2428.

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 
the 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 modify Class E airspace to support IFR operations 
at Klawock Airport, Klawock, AK.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain 
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments 
are filed in writing.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light 
of the comments it receives.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
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 
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and 
hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during 
normal business hours at the office at the Northwest Mountain Regional 
Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic 
Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S. 
216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E5 airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This 
document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order 
JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. 
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 
7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this document.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The FAA published an NPRM in the Federal Register for FAA 2023-1801 
(88 FR 67124; September 29, 2023) to modify Class E airspace at the 
Klawock Airport. An extension was proposed to the northeast to be 
within 3 miles northwest and 3.3 miles southwest of the airport's 
043[deg] bearing, extending to 9 miles northeast of the airport to more 
appropriately contain departing IFR operations until reaching 1,200 
feet above the surface and arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet 
above the surface, when executing the CAALM 2 Area Navigation (RNAV) 
Departure Procedure or the RNAV Global Positioning System (GPS) RWY 20 
and RNAV (GPS) M RWY 20 approaches. Subsequent to the publication of 
the NPRM, the FAA discovered that the extension should be within 3 
miles northwest and 3.3 miles southeast of the 043[deg] bearing, 
extending to 9 miles northeast of the airport. This SNPRM updates the 
FAA's proposal to correct that error.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to modify the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and 
remove the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the 
surface at Klawock Airport, Klawock, AK.
    The Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface within a 6.7-mile radius should be reduced to a semicircle 
within the airport's 249[deg] bearing clockwise to the 025[deg] 
bearing, as operations are not authorized to the southeast of the 
airport and containment is not needed in that area.
    In addition, an extension to the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface should be added to the northeast to be 
within 3 miles northwest and 3.3 miles southeast of the airport's 
043[deg] bearing extending to 9 miles northeast of the airport to more 
appropriately contain departing IFR operations until reaching 1,200 
feet

[[Page 87377]]

above the surface and arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet above 
the surface, when executing the CAALM 2 RNAV Departure Procedure or the 
RNAV (GPS) RWY 20 and RNAV (GPS) M RWY 20 approaches.
    Moreover, the southwest procedure turn area should be removed, as 
it is no longer needed. In its place, a southwest extension to the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
should be added to be within 3.3 miles southeast and 3 miles northwest 
of the airport's 223[deg] bearing, extending to 14.6 miles southwest of 
the airport. This extension would better contain departing IFR 
operations between the surface and 1,200 feet while executing the TURTY 
RNAV departure and arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet above the 
surface while executing the RNAV (GPS) A, RNAV (GPS) M RWY 2, RNAV 
(GPS) Y RWY 2, or RNAV (GPS) Z RWY 2 approaches.
    Furthermore, the Klawock Class E airspace beginning at 1,200 feet 
above the surface should be removed as it is redundant.
    Finally, the FAA proposes administrative modifications to the 
airport's associated legal description. The Klawock Nondirectional 
Beacon/Distance Measuring Equipment navigational aid was decommissioned 
in 2017, and reference to it should be removed.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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 proposed 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.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will 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

    In consideration of the foregoing, 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 JO 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Klawock, AK [Amended]

Klawock Airport, AK
    (Lat. 55[deg]34'45'' N, long. 133[deg]04'34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of the airport from the 249[deg] bearing 
clockwise to the 025[deg] bearing, within 3 miles northwest and 3.3 
miles southeast of the 043[deg] bearing extending from the airport 
to 9 miles northeast, and within 3.3 miles southeast and 3 miles 
northwest of the 223[deg] bearing extending from the airport to 14.6 
miles southwest.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 8, 2023.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2023-27670 Filed 12-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P