[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2889-2890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1226]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-ACE-28]


Amendment to Class E Airspace; Poplar Bluff, MO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace area at Poplar Bluff 
Municipal Airport, Poplar Bluff, MO. The FAA has developed Global 
Positioning System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 18 and GPS RWY 36 Standard 
Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) to serve the Poplar Bluff 
Municipal Airport. Additional controlled airspace extending upward from 
700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to accommodate these SIAPs 
and for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at this airport. The 
enlarged area will contain the new GPS RWY 18 and GPS RWY 36 SIAPs in 
controlled airspace. A minor correction has been made to the Airport 
Reference Point (ARP) geographic coordinates and is reflected in this 
document.

DATES: Effective date: 0901 UTC, April 20, 1998.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before February 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the rule in triplicate to: Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic 
Division, ACE-520, Attention: Rules Docket Number 97-ACE-28, 601 East 
12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel for the Central Region at the same address between 9:00 a.m. 
and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Air Traffic Division at the same address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division, 
Airspace Branch, ACE-520C, Federal Aviation Administration, 601 East 
12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone: (816) 426-3408.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has developed GPS RWY 18 and GPS RWY 
36 SIAPs at Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport, Poplar Bluff, MO. The 
amendment to Class E airspace at

[[Page 2890]]

Poplar Bluff, MO, will provide additional controlled airspace at and 
above 700 feet AGL in order to contain the new SIAPs within controlled 
airspace and thereby facilitate separation of aircraft operating under 
IFR. The area will be depicted on appropriate aeronautical charts. 
Class E airspace areas extending from 700 feet or more above the 
surface of the earth are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 
7400.9E, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 1997, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. A minor correction 
has been made to ARP geographic coordinates for the Poplar Bluff 
Municipal Airport and is reflected in this document. The ARP geographic 
coordinates and the Class E airspace designation listed in this 
document will be published subsequently in the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse 
or negative comment and, therefore, is issuing it as a direct rule. 
Previous actions of this nature have not been controversial and have 
not resulted in adverse comments or objections. The amendment will 
enhance safety for all flight operations by designating an area where 
VFR pilots may anticipate the presence of IFR aircraft at lower 
altitudes, especially during inclement weather conditions. A greater 
degree of safety is achieved by depicting the area on aeronautical 
charts. Unless a written adverse or negative comment, or a written 
notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is received 
within the comment period, the regulation will become effective on the 
date specified above. After the close of the comment period, the FAA 
will publish a document in the Federal Register indicating that no 
adverse or negative comments were received and confirming the date on 
which the final rule will become effective. If the FAA does receive, 
within the comment period, an adverse or negative comment, or written 
notice of intent to submit such a comment, a document withdrawing the 
direct final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a 
notice of proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment 
period.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not 
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of 
the comments received. Factual information that supports the 
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, aeronautical, environmental, and energy-related aspects of 
the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments 
submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for 
comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A 
report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the 
substance of this action will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 97-ACE-28.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and 
unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons 
discussed in the preamble, I certify that this 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) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, 
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under 
the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 
71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

    1. The authority citation for part 71 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.


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 
1997, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6005  Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth.
* * * * *

ACE MO E5 Poplar Bluff, MO [Revised]

Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport, MO
    (Lat. 36 deg.46'26'' N., long. 90 deg.19'29'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport and 
within 2.6 miles each side of the 181 deg. bearing from the Poplar 
Bluff Municipal Airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 7 
miles south of the airport.
* * * * *
    Issued in Kansas City, MO, on November 21, 1997.
Herman J. Lyons, Jr.,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Central Region.
[FR Doc. 98-1226 Filed 1-16-98; 8:45 am]
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