[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 88528-88529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28228]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1006; Airspace Docket No. 22-AWP-65]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class E Airspace; Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, 
NV

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, NV. 
Additionally, this action makes administrative amendments to update the 
airport's Class E airspace legal description. These actions support the 
safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at 
the airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, March 21, 2024. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR 
part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, and publication of conforming 
amendments.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and 
Supplemental NPRM (SNPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and 
all background material may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov 
using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines 
are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 
days each year.
    FAA Order 7400.11H, 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 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 
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 modifies Class E airspace to support IFR operations at Minden-
Tahoe Airport, Minden, NV.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2023-1006 in the Federal Register on August 10, 2023 (88 FR 54252), 
followed by an SNPRM (88 FR 72971, October 24, 2023) to modify Class E 
airspace at Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, NV. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking

[[Page 88529]]

effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. One 
comment was received from a local glider pilot requesting a glider area 
or corridor for glider operations in the airspace. This action already 
reduces the size of the Class E airspace restoring airspace that is 
available for glider operations without contacting Air Traffic Control.

Incorporation by Reference

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

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Minden-Tahoe 
Airport, Minden, NV, by reducing the radius 2.3 miles to be within a 
4.2-mile radius of Minden-Tahoe Airport, NV. In addition, the Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface is 
established within 2 miles each side of the 001[deg] bearing from the 
airport, extending from the 4.2-mile radius to 8.9 miles north of the 
airport. Furthermore, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface is established within 1.1 miles each side of the 
180[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 4.2-mile radius 
to 7 miles south of the airport. This airspace would contain IFR 
departures to 1,200 feet above the surface and IFR arrivals below 1,500 
feet above the surface.
    Finally, the administrative portion of the airport's associated 
legal description is modified to update the geographic coordinates 
located on line three of the text header to match the FAA's database.

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, 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

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Minden, NV [Amended]

Minden-Tahoe Airport, NV
    (Lat. 39[deg]00'02'' N, long. 119[deg]45'04'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 4.2-mile radius of the airport, that airspace 2 miles each 
side of a 001[deg] bearing extending from the 4.2-mile radius to 8.9 
miles north of the airport, and that airspace 1.2 miles each side of 
a 180[deg] bearing extending from the 4.2-mile radius to 7 miles 
south of the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 18, 2023.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-28228 Filed 12-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P