[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 8 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1789-1790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00193]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2114; Airspace Docket No. 23-AEA-17]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Bedford, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace at Bedford, PA. This 
action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the 
decommissioning of the St. Thomas very high frequency omnidirectional 
range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. 
This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to 
support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

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 JO 7400.11 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), 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 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: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

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 amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Bedford County Airport, Bedford, PA, to support IFR 
operations at this airport.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2023-2114 in the 
Federal Register (88 FR 76155; November 6, 2023) proposing to amend the 
Class E airspace at Bedford, PA. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E 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 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

[[Page 1790]]

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 amendment to 14 CFR part 71 modifies the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to within an 8-mile 
(decreased from a 12.5-mile) radius of Bedford County Airport, Bedford, 
PA; and within 2 miles each side of the 128[deg] bearing from the 
airport extending from the 8-mile radius to 13 miles southeast of the 
airport; and within 2 miles each side of the 308[deg] bearing from the 
airport extending from the 8-mile radius to 14. 8 miles northwest of 
the airport.

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. 
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 
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified 
that this rule, when promulgated, does 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 5-6.5.a. 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.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR 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.

* * * * *

AEA PA E5 Bedford, PA [Amended]

Bedford County Airport, PA
    (Lat 40[deg]05'10'' N, long 78[deg]30'49'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8-mile radius of Bedford County Airport; and within 2 
miles each side of the 128[deg] bearing from the airport extending 
from the 8-mile radius to 13 miles southeast of the airport; and 
within 2 miles each side of the 308[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 8-mile radius to 14.8 miles northwest of the 
airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 3, 2024.
Martin A. Skinner,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-00193 Filed 1-10-24; 8:45 am]
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