[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 83776-83777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23962]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2212; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASO-50]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Highlands, NC

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface for Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Highlands, NC, 
as new instrument approach procedures have been designed for Highlands-
Cashiers Hospital. This action also updates the coordinates for 
Highland-Cashiers Hospital. Controlled airspace is necessary for the 
safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at 
this airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, December 26, 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 a day, 365 days a year.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations, and Reporting Points, 
as well as subsequent amendments, can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Scott Stuart, Operations 
Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 
1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; telephone: (404) 305-
5926.

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 Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface for Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Highlands, NC.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2023-2212 in the Federal Register (89 FR 63116; August 2, 2024), 
proposing to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface for Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Highlands, NC. 
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 is 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 
7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. FAA 
Order JO 7400.11J 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 7400.11J 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 amends Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface for Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, 
Highlands, NC, by relocating the center point of the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface

[[Page 83777]]

within a 6-mile radius of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. Additionally, 
this action deletes the Point In Space Coordinates for Highlands-
Cashiers Hospital and uses Highlands-Cashiers Hospital as a reference 
to accommodate Class E airspace requirements. Controlled airspace is 
necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules 
(IFR) operations in the area.

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 
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

    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 the preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

Lists 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 Federal Aviation 
Administration Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is 
amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ASO NC E5 Highlands, NC [Amended]

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital
    (lat. 35[deg]05'10'' N, long. 83[deg]11'13'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the 
surface within a 6-mile radius of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.
* * * * *

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on October 11, 2024.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2024-23962 Filed 10-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P