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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45407-45409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16383]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-4429; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-8]

Amendment of Class E Airspace for the Following Louisiana Towns; 
De Quincy, LA; Minden, LA; Slidell, LA; and Revocation of Class E 
Airspace; Homer, LA

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 De Quincy Industrial Airpark, De Quincy, 
LA; Minden Airport, Minden, LA; and Slidell, Airport, Slidell, LA. The 
decommissioning of non-directional radio beacons (NDB) and/or 
cancellation of NDB approaches due to advances in Global Positioning 
System (GPS) capabilities, and implementation of area navigation (RNAV) 
procedures have made this action necessary for the safety and 
management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at these 
airports. This action also removes Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface at Homer Municipal Airport, Homer, LA, 
as controlled airspace is no longer needed. Additionally, the name of 
Minden Airport (formerly Minden-Webster Airport) and the geographic 
coordinates at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, Minden Airport, and 
Slidell Airport are being adjusted to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, September 15, 2016. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
Title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual 
revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can 
contact the Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation

[[Page 45408]]

Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, 20591; 
telephone: 202-267-8783. The Order is also available for inspection at 
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of FAA Order 7400.9Z at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 Class E airspace at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, De 
Quincy, LA; Homer Municipal Airport, Homer, LA; Minden Airport, Minden, 
LA; and Slidell, Airport, Slidell, LA.

History

    On April 13, 2016, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (81 FR 21774), Docket No. FAA-
2016-4429, to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, De Quincy, LA; Homer 
Municipal Airport, Homer, LA; Minden Airport, Minden, LA; and Slidell, 
Airport, Slidell, LA. Interested parties were invited to participate in 
this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal 
to the FAA. Subsequent to publication, the FAA found that Minden-
Webster Airport had been changed to Minden Airport and is noted as such 
in this rule.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.9Z, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 
2015, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 
2015. FAA Order 7400.9Z is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.9Z lists Class A, B, 
C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting 
points.

The Rule

    This amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface within a 7.5-mile radius of De Quincy Industrial Airpark, 
De Quincy, LA; within a 6.5-mile radius of Minden Airport, Minden, LA; 
and within a 6.5-mile radius of Slidell Airport, Slidell, LA, with 
segments extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 9.2 miles north, and 9 
miles south of the airport. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due 
to the decommissioning of NDBs, cancellation of NDB approaches, and 
implementation of RNAV procedures at the above airports. The Class E 
airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 
6.8-mile radius of Homer Municipal Airport, Homer, LA, is being removed 
as controlled airspace is no longer needed. Additionally, the name of 
Minden Airport (formerly Minden-Webster Airport) and the geographic 
coordinates at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, Minden Airport, and 
Slidell Airport are being adjusted to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database. All modifications to the Class E airspace are in 
accordance with airspace requirements specified in FAA Joint Order 
7400.2K, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. Controlled airspace 
is necessary for the safety and management of standard instrument 
approach procedures for IFR operations at the airports.

 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 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 Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (Air).

Adoption of 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 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 7400.9Z, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and 
effective September 15, 2015, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ASW LA E5 De Quincy, LA [Amended]

De Quincy Industrial Airpark, LA
    (Lat. 30[deg]26'28'' N., long. 93[deg]28'25'' W.)

[[Page 45409]]

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.5-mile radius of De Quincy Industrial Airpark.
* * * * *

ASW LA E5 Homer, LA [Removed]

* * * * *

ASW LA E5 Minden, LA [Amended]

Minden Airport, LA
    (Lat. 32[deg]38'46'' N., long. 93[deg]17'53'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of Minden Airport.
* * * * *

ASW LA E5 Slidell, LA [Amended]

Slidell Airport, LA
    (Lat. 30[deg]20'47'' N., long. 89[deg]49'15'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of Slidell Airport, and within 4.0 miles 
each side of the 360[deg] bearing from the airport extending from 
the 6.5-mile radius to 9.2 miles north of the airport, and within 
4.0 miles each side of the 180[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 9.0 miles south of the 
airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 27, 2016.
Walter Tweedy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-16383 Filed 7-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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