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###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Aviation Administration

          - 14 CFR Part 71
          - [Docket No. FAA-2023-2482; Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-26]
          - RIN 2120-AA66

# AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

# ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

# SUMMARY:

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's geographic coordinates in the legal description to match the FAA database. 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 March 1, 2024.

# ADDRESSES:

Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-2482 and Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-26 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 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                           ( print page 2521)                        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 Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, 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

                    The Class E2 and E5 airspace designations are published in paragraphs 6002 and 6005, respectively, 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.

## The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK.

The Class E airspace designated as a surface area of a 4.2-mile radius around the airport, should be appropriately sized to 4.1-mile radius. This reduction in airspace would more efficiently contains IFR departures until reaching 700 feet above the surface or the next adjacent controlled airspace.

The Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface should be modified to contain IFR aircrafts executing IFR arrival procedures descending through 1,500 feet above the surface. The Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Runway (RWY) 26 and Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) RWY 8 final approach bearings currently are not aligned and not contained within the existing Class E airspace area extensions. The airspace proposal would adjust both Class E airspace extensions, to contain IFR arrivals descending below 1,500 feet above the surface. The RNAV (GPS) RWY 8 would be contained with a western extension from the airport's 269° bearing, with a width of 2.1 nautical miles (NM) on either side of centerline and extend westward 12.2 NM. The required airspace extension to contain the VOR RWY 26 would extend from the airports 086° bearing, with a width of 4.8 NM on either side of centerline and extend eastward 20.2 NM. The VOR RWY 26 final approach fix is located within 1,500 feet of the highest terrain. The terrain's proximity requires containment of the approach's hold-in-lieu primary area by the airport's Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface.

The additional airspace required to contain the VOR RWY 26 hold-in-lieu primary area would also contain IFR departures until the aircraft reaches 1,200 feet above the surface; therefore, the existing inner circumference of the Class E airspace area extending from 700 feet above the surface would be reduced from a 7.2-mile radius to a 6.6-mile radius.

Finally, the FAA proposes an administrative action to the airport's legal description. The airport's geographic coordinates on line 3 of both legal descriptions should be updated to match the FAA's database.

## 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)

      ( print page 2522)    

## 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

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.

§ 71.1

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 6002 Class E Airspace Area Designated as a Surface Area.*

* * * * *

## AAL AK E2 Galena, AK [Amended]

Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, AK

(Lat. 64°44′10″ N, long. 156°56′4″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-mile radius of the airport.

* * * * *

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

* * * * *

## AAL AK E2 Galena, AK [Amended]

Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, AK

(Lat. 64°44′10″ N, long. 156°56′4″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.6-mile radius of the airport, within 4.8 miles of each side of the airport's 086° bearing extending to 20.2 miles east of the airport, and within 2.1 miles each side of the airport's 269° bearing extending to 12.2 miles west of the airport; that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 73-mile radius of the airport.

* * * * *

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, January 9, 2024.

B.G. Chew,

Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.

[FR Doc. 2024-00642 Filed 1-12-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P