This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

39344 

Vol. 79, No. 132 

Thursday, July 10, 2014 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 73 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–0370; Airspace 

Docket No. 14–ASO–2] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Proposed Redesignation and 

Expansion of Restricted Area R–4403; 

Gainesville, MS 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

remove restricted area R–4403 

Gainesville, MS, and replace it with an 

expanded area that would be 

redesignated as R–4403A, B, C, D, E and 

F, Stennis Space Center, MS. The 

expanded restricted airspace would be 

used to support mission requirements of 

the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA) and the Naval 

Special Warfare Command (NSWC). 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before August 25, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001; telephone: 

(202) 366–9826. You must identify FAA 

Docket No. FAA–2014–0370 and 

Airspace Docket No. 14–ASO–2, at the 

beginning of your comments. You may 

also submit comments through the 

Internet at www.regulations.gov. 

Comments on environmental and land 

use aspects should be directed to: David 

Lorance, P.E., Center Operations 

Directorate, Roy S. Estess Building 1100, 

Mail Code RA02, Stennis Space Center, 

MS 39529–6000. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul 

Gallant, Airspace Policy and 

Regulations Group, Office of Airspace 

Services, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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 (FAA Docket No. FAA– 

2014–0370 and Airspace Docket No. 14– 

ASO–2) and be submitted in triplicate to 

the Docket Management System (see 

ADDRESSES section for address and 

phone number). You may also submit 

comments through the Internet at 

www.regulations.gov. 

Commenters wishing the FAA to 

acknowledge receipt of their comments 

on this action must submit with those 

comments a self-addressed, stamped 

postcard on which the following 

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to FAA 

Docket No. FAA–2014–0370 and 

Airspace Docket No. 14–ASO–2.’’ The 

postcard will be date/time stamped and 

returned to the commenter. 

All communications received on or 

before the specified closing date for 

comments will be considered before 

taking action on the proposed rule. The 

proposal contained in this action may 

be changed in light of comments 

received. All comments submitted will 

be available for examination in the 

public docket both before and after the 

closing date for comments. 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 www.regulations.gov. 

You may review the public docket 

containing the proposal, any comments 

received and any final disposition in 

person at the Dockets Office (see 

ADDRESSES section for 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 office of 

the Operations Support Group, Eastern 

Service Center, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 1701 Columbia Ave., 

College Park, GA 30337. 

Persons interested in being placed on 

a mailing list for future NPRM’s should 

contact the FAA’s Office of Rulemaking, 

(202) 267–9677, for a copy of Advisory 

Circular No. 11–2A, Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking Distribution System, which 

describes the application procedure. 

Background 

Restricted area R–4403, Gainesville, 

MS, was originally designated as of 

January 6, 1966 (30 FR 10287) for 

NASA’s static testing of large space 

vehicle rocket stages. R–4403 is a 

rectangular area, measuring 

approximately 2 nautical miles (NM) by 

2.5 NM with a designated altitude from 

the surface up to 5,000 feet MSL. 

NASA and NSWC have jointly 

proposed an expansion of R–4403. The 

existing restricted area is too small to 

fully contain hazards to aviation 

associated with rocket engine testing 

and untethered space vehicle 

propulsion system testing. In addition, 

NSWC requested restricted airspace to 

be used for conducting full mission 

profile training for Special Operations 

Forces (SOF). This training allows air 

and ground units to practice integrating 

their operations to eliminate potential 

conflicts and coordination problems 

that could otherwise arise during 

complex missions when deployed. 

R–4403A and B would be used for 

NASA activities, while R–4403C 

through F would be used by SOF units 

to conduct integrated training in air and 

ground tactics prior to their deployment 

on real-world missions. The Stennis 

Space Center has the potential to enable 

combined SOF training for riverine, 

jungle and airborne forces. Currently, 

the Stennis Space Center lacks a livefire air-to-ground capability. This 

deficiency reduces SOF mission 

integration training in the employment 

of air and ground units to no more than 

a communications exercise. The 

proposed expansion of R–4403 would 

provide the live-fire air-to-ground 

capability which is critical to realistic 

full mission profile training. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 132 / Thursday, July 10, 2014 / Proposed Rules 39345 

The Proposal 

The FAA is proposing an amendment 

to 14 CFR part 73 to remove restricted 

area R–4403, Gainesville, MS, and 

redesignate and expand the size of the 

airspace to consist of six subareas: R– 

4403A, B, C, D, E and F, Stennis Space 

Center, MS. The FAA is proposing this 

action at the request of NASA and the 

NSWC. R–4403A and B would be used 

for NASA activities, such as continuing 

rocket engine testing and untethered 

space vehicle propulsion system testing. 

The NSWC would use the proposed R– 

4403C, D, E and F for integrated Special 

Operations Forces training. The 

proposed restricted areas are described 

below. 

R–4403A would extend within a 2.5- 

NM radius of lat. 30°21′51′′ N., long. 

89°35′39′′ W. R–4403A would extend 

from the surface to 12,000 feet MSL. It 

would replace R–4403 with an 

expanded area to more fully contain 

NASA rocket engine testing hazards, 

including testing of new rocket engine 

technologies. 

R–4403B would be used by NASA for 

untethered space vehicle propulsion 

testing. The area would extend upward 

from the surface to 6,000 feet MSL. 

These vehicles are utilized to explore 

planets and asteroids. Testing of these 

vehicles involves potential hazards 

since failure of the vehicle, its 

propulsion system or propellant tanks 

can result in explosion of the vehicle. 

The propensity for this to occur is 

greater with these vehicles than with a 

standard aircraft because of the 

extremely volatile nature of the 

propellants and the poor aerodynamic 

characteristics of the vehicle during 

earth-based operation. The proposed R– 

4403B is designed to contain the flight 

profiles of these vehicles as well as any 

potential hazards to nonparticipating 

aircraft. 

R–4403C would contain a ground 

target for air-to-surface weapons firing 

by aircraft such as armed helicopters 

and AC–130 gunships. Surface-to-air 

laser firing would also be conducted. 

The area would extend upward from the 

surface to 6,000 feet MSL. 

R–4403D would be used in 

conjunction with R–4403C. It would 

have the same lateral dimensions as R– 

4403C and would extend above R– 

4403C from 6,000 feet MSL to 10,000 

feet MSL. This area would contain airto-ground weapons firing, as well as 

surface-to-air laser firing. 

R–4403E would contain a ground 

target for air-to-surface weapons firing 

and surface-to-air laser firing. The area 

would extend upward from the surface 

to 10,000 feet MSL. 

R–4403F would be used in 

conjunction with R–4403E. R–4403F 

would wrap around the northeast corner 

of R–4403E and would extend upward 

from 4,000 feet MSL to 10,000 feet MSL. 

The proposed time of designation for 

R–4403A and R–4403B is ‘‘Intermittent, 

1000 to 0300 local time, as activated by 

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.’’ 

The proposed time of designation for R– 

4403C, D, E and F is ‘‘Intermittent, 1800 

to 2400 local time as activated by 

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance; 

other times by NOTAM with ATC 

approval. (Note: The term 

‘‘Intermittent’’ is used to indicate 

occasional, irregular, or changeable use 

periods). During periods when the 

proposed restricted areas are not needed 

by the using agencies, the airspace 

would be returned to the controlling 

agency for access by other airspace 

users. 

A color graphic depiction of the 

proposed restricted areas will be posted 

under the ‘‘Supporting & Related 

Material’’ section on the 

www.regulations.gov Web site (search 

FAA–2014–0370). 

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. 

Therefore, this proposed regulation: (1) 

Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ 

under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not 

a ‘‘significant rule’’ under Department of 

Transportation (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. 

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 restructure the restricted 

airspace at the Stennis Space Center, 

MS, to enhance aviation safety and 

accommodate essential NASA and 

NSWC requirements. 

Environmental Review 

This proposal will be subjected to an 

environmental analysis in accordance 

with FAA Order 1050.1E, 

‘‘Environmental Impacts: Policies and 

Procedures,’’ prior to any FAA final 

regulatory action. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73 

Airspace, Prohibited Areas, Restricted 

Areas. 

The Proposed Amendment 

In consideration of the foregoing, the 

Federal Aviation Administration 

proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as 

follows: 

PART 73—SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 73 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 

40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959– 

1963 Comp., p. 389. 

§ 73.44 (Amended) 

■ 2. § 73.44 is amended as follows: 

* * * * * 

R–4403 Gainesville, MS [Removed] 

* * * * * 

R–4403A Stennis Space Center, MS 

[New] 

Boundaries. Within a 2.5-NM radius 

centered at lat. 30°21′51′′ N., long. 

89°35′39′′ W. 

Designated altitudes. Surface to 

12,000 feet MSL. 

Time of designation. Intermittent, 

1000 to 0300 local time, as activated by 

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance. 

Controlling agency. FAA, Houston 

ARTCC. 

Using agency. NASA, Director, 

Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, 

MS. 

* * * * * 

R–4403B Stennis Space Center, MS 

[New] 

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 

30°29′37′′ N., long. 89°35′16′′ W.; to lat. 

30°29′37′′ N., long. 89°32′33′′ W.; thence 

clockwise along a 0.85 NM arc centered 

at lat. 30°28′46′′ N., long. 89°32′33′′ W.; 

to lat. 30°28′46′′ N., long. 89°31′34′′ W.; 

to lat. 30°26′25′′ N., long. 89°31′34′′ W.; 

to lat. 30°24′02′′ N., long. 89°31′34′′ W.; 

thence counterclockwise along a 4.2 NM 

arc centered at lat. 30°22′04′′ N., long. 

89°27′17′′ W.; to lat. 30°20′22′′ N., long. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
39346 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 132 / Thursday, July 10, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

89°31′43′′ W.; to lat. 30°19′25′′ N., long. 

89°35′00′′ W.; to lat. 30°18′23′′ N., long. 

89°40′17′′ W.; to lat. 30°21′08′′ N., long. 

89°42′25′′ W.; to lat. 30°22′22′′ N., long. 

89°42′58′′ W.; to lat. 30°23′44′′ N., long. 

89°42′43′′ W.; to lat. 30°26′40′′ N., long. 

89°40′51′′ W.; thence counterclockwise 

along a 3 NM arc centered at lat. 

30°29′15′′ N., long. 89°39′04′′ W.; to lat. 

30°27′08′′ N., long. 89°36′37′′ W.; to lat. 

30°27′58′′ N., long. 89°35′27′′ W.; to lat. 

30°28′47′′ N., long. 89°35′27′′ W.; to the 

point of beginning. 

Designated altitudes. Surface to 6,000 

feet MSL. 

Time of designation. Intermittent, 

1000 to 0300 local time, as activated by 

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance. 

Controlling agency. FAA, Houston 

ARTCC. 

Using agency. NASA, Director, 

Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, 

MS. 

* * * * * 

R–4403C Stennis Space Center, MS 

[New] 

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 

30°27′58′′ N., long. 89°35′27′′ W.; to lat. 

30°22′35′′ N., long. 89°35′27′′ W.; to lat. 

30°20′22′′ N., long. 89°31′43′′ W.; to lat. 

30°19′25′′ N., long. 89°35′00′′ W.; to lat. 

30°18′23′′ N., long. 89°40′17′′ W.; to lat. 

30°21′08′′ N., long. 89°42′25′′ W.; to lat. 

30°22′22′ N., long. 89°42′58′′ W.; to lat. 

30°23′44′′ N., long. 89°42′43′′ W.; to lat. 

30°26′40′′ N., long. 89°40′51′′ W.; thence 

counterclockwise along a 3 NM arc 

centered at lat. 30°29′15′′ N., long. 

89°39′04′′ W.; to lat. 30°27′08′′ N., long. 

89°36′37′′ W.; to the point of beginning. 

Designated altitudes. Surface to but 

not including 6,000 feet MSL. 

Time of designation. Intermittent, 

1800 to 2400 local time, as activated by 

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance; 

other times by NOTAM with ATC 

approval. 

Controlling agency. FAA, Houston 

ARTCC. 

Using agency. U.S. Navy, Deputy 

Commander, Naval Special Warfare 

Command, Naval Special Warfare N31 

Branch, Stennis Space Center, Bay St. 

Louis, MS. 

* * * * * 

R–4403D Stennis Space Center, MS 

[New] 

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 

30°27′58′′ N., long. 89°35′27′′ W.; to lat. 

30°22′35′′ N., long. 89°35′27′′ W.; to lat. 

30°20′22′′ N., long. 89°31′43′′ W.; to lat. 

30°19′25′′ N., long. 89°35′00′′ W.; to lat. 

30°18′23′′ N., long. 89°40′17′′ W.; to lat. 

30°21′08′′ N., long. 89°42′25′′ W.; to lat. 

30°22′22′′ N., long. 89°42′58′′ W.; to lat. 

30°23′44′′ N., long. 89°42′43′′ W.; to lat. 

30°26′40′′ N., long. 89°40′51′′ W.; thence 

counterclockwise along a 3 NM arc 

centered at lat. 30°29′15′′ N., long. 

89°39′04′′ W.; to lat. 30°27′08′′ N., long. 

89°36′37′′ W.; to the point of beginning. 

Designated altitudes. 6,000 feet MSL 

to 10,000 feet MSL. 

Time of designation. Intermittent, 

1800 to 2400 local time, as activated by 

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance; 

other times by NOTAM with ATC 

approval. 

Controlling agency. FAA, Houston 

ARTCC. 

Using agency. U.S. Navy, Deputy 

Commander, Naval Special Warfare 

Command, Naval Special Warfare N31 

Branch, Stennis Space Center, Bay St. 

Louis, MS. 

* * * * * 

R–4403E Stennis Space Center, MS 

[New] 

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 

30°29′37′′ N., long. 89°35′16′′ W.; to lat. 

30°29′37′′ N., long. 89°32′33′′ W.; thence 

clockwise along a 0.85 NM arc centered 

at lat. 30°28′46′′ N., long. 89°32′33′′ W.; 

to lat. 30°28′46′′ N., long. 89°31′34′′ W.; 

to lat. 30°26′25′′ N., long. 89°31′34′′ W.; 

to lat. 30°24′02′′ N., long. 89°31′34′′ W.; 

thence counterclockwise along a 4.2 NM 

arc centered at lat. 30°22′04′′ N., long. 

89°27′17′′ W.; to lat. 30°20′22′′ N., long. 

89°31′43′′ W.; to lat. 30°22′35′′ N., long. 

89°35′27′′ W.; to lat. 30°27′58′′ N., long. 

89°35′27′′ W,; to lat. 30°28′47′′ N., long. 

89°35′27′′ W.; to the point of beginning. 

Designated altitudes. Surface to 

10,000 feet MSL. 

Time of designation. Intermittent, 

1800 to 2400 local time, as activated by 

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance; 

other times by NOTAM with ATC 

approval. 

Controlling agency. FAA, Houston 

ARTCC. 

Using agency. U.S. Navy, Deputy 

Commander, Naval Special Warfare 

Command, Naval Special Warfare N31 

Branch, Stennis Space Center, Bay St. 

Louis, MS. 

* * * * * 

R–4403F Stennis Space Center, MS 

[New] 

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 

30°29′37′′ N., long. 89°35′16′′ W.; thence 

clockwise along a 2.5 NM arc centered 

at lat. 30°28′46′′ N., long. 89°32′33′′ W.; 

to lat. 30°26′25′′ N., long. 89°31′34′′ W.; 

to lat. 30°28′46′′ N., long. 89°31′34′′ W.; 

thence counterclockwise along a 0.85 

NM arc centered at lat. 30°28′46′′ N., 

long. 89°32′33′′ W.; to lat. 30°29′37′′ N., 

long. 89°32′33′′ W.; to the point of 

beginning. 

Designated altitudes. 4,000 feet MSL 

to 10,000 feet MSL. 

Time of designation. Intermittent, 

1800 to 2400 local time, as activated by 

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance; 

other times by NOTAM with ATC 

approval. 

Controlling agency. FAA, Houston 

ARTCC. 

Using agency. U.S. Navy, Deputy 

Commander, Naval Special Warfare 

Command, Naval Special Warfare N31 

Branch, Stennis Space Center, Bay St. 

Louis, MS. 

* * * * * 

Issued in Washington, DC, on July 2, 2014. 

Gary A. Norek, 

Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations 

Group. 

[FR Doc. 2014–16059 Filed 7–9–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

22 CFR Part 181 

[Public Notice: 8780] 

RIN 1400–AD53 

Publication, Coordination, and 

Reporting of International Agreements: 

Amendments 

AGENCY: Department of State. 

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for 

comment. 

SUMMARY: The Treaties and Other 

International Acts Series (TIAS) is the 

official treaty series of the United States 

and serves as evidence of the treaties, 

and international agreements other than 

treaties, in all courts of law and equity 

of the United States, and in public 

offices of the federal government and of 

the states, without any need of further 

authentication. Certain international 

agreements may be exempted from 

publication in TIAS, if the Department 

of State provides notice in its 

regulations. With this proposed rule, the 

Department of State is proposing to 

update those regulations to exempt 

three additional agreement categories. 

DATES: The Department of State will 

consider comments submitted before 

September 8, 2014. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Courtney Rusin, Treaty Affairs, Office of 

the Legal Adviser, Department of State, 

Washington, DC 20520, (202) 647–1345, 

or at treatyoffice@state.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant 

to 1 U.S.C. 112a, the Secretary of State 

is required to cause to be published 

annually a compilation of all treaties 

and international agreements to which 

the United States is a party that were 

signed, proclaimed, or ‘‘with reference 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS