[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3675-3677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1744]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-ANM-15]


Proposed Revocation of Class E Airspace; Blue Mesa, CO; and 
Establishment of Class E Airspace; Gunnison, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


[[Page 3676]]


ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revoke the Class E airspace area at 
Blue Mesa, CO, and to establish a larger Class E airspace area in its 
place which would be designated the Gunnison, CO, Class E airspace 
area. A recent airspace review disclosed that the Blue Mesa Class E 
airspace area is incorrectly named for a navigational aid rather than 
for the airport served by the airspace. This is contrary to FAA policy. 
This proposal would, in effect, rename the Class E airspace area. This 
proposal, if adopted, would also increase the size of the Class E 
airspace area. The additional controlled airspace is necessary to 
accommodate a new Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument 
approach procedure (SIAP) serving the Gunnison County Airport, 
Gunnison, CO.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal to: Manager, Airspace Branch, 
ANM-520, Federal Aviation Administration, Docket No. 97-ANM-15, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
    The official docket may be examined in the office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel for the Northwest Mountain Region at the same address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the office of the Manager, Air Traffic Division, Airspace 
Branch, at the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Ripley, ANM-520.6, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Docket No. 97-ANM-15, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone number: (425) 227-2527.

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 the airspace docket number and be 
submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing 
the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must 
submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 97-
ANM-15.'' 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 notice may be changed 
in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available 
for examination at the address listed above 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 NPRM's

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the Federal Aviation Administration, Airspace Branch, ANM-520, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Communications must 
identify the notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being 
placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should also request a copy 
of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR part 71) to establish Class E airspace at 
Gunnison, CO. This amendment proposes to remove the existing Blue Mesa, 
CO, Class E airspace while establishing a larger and correctly named 
Gunnison, CO, Class E airspace. The establishment of the Gunnison, CO, 
airspace would add a 2 nautical mile 700-foot Class E area extension to 
the northeast, and modify 1200-foot Class E airspace to the south and 
the east of the existing Blue Mesa, CO, airspace. The extensions are 
necessary to meet the airspace criteria for aircraft transitioning 
between the terminal and en route environments, and to fully encompass 
a new GPS-B SIAP to the Gunnison County Airport. The FAA establishes 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above ground level 
(AGL) where necessary to contain aircraft transitioning between the 
terminal and en route environments. The intended effect of this 
proposal is to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace 
and to promote safe flight operations under IFR at the Gunnison County 
Airport, and between the terminal and en route transition stages.
    The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot 
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. Class E airspace areas extending upward 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. 
The Class E airspace designation listed in this document would be 
published subsequently in the Order.
    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. 
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 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 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 14 CFR 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 the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 
1997, is amended as follows:

[[Page 3677]]

Paragraph 6005  Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

ANM CO E5  Blue Mesa, CO [Removed]

* * * * *

ANM CO E5  Gunnison, CO [New]

Gunnison County Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38 deg.32'02'' N, long. 106 deg.55'59'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 38 deg.11'25'' N, 
long. 107 deg.12'30'' W; to lat. 38 deg.21'25'' N, long. 
107 deg.25'00'' W; to lat. 38 deg.24'30'' N, long. 107 deg.21'00'' 
W; to lat. 38 deg.33'30'' N, long. 107 deg.20'00'' W; to lat. 
38 deg.31'25'' N, long. 107 deg.12'30'' W; to lat. 38 deg.42'00'' N, 
long. 106 deg.59'00'' W; to lat. 38 deg.32'10'' N, long, 
106 deg.46'00'' W; thence to point of beginning; that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within an area 
bounded by a line beginning at lat. 37 deg.59'30'' N, long. 
107 deg.16'00'' W; to lat. 38 deg.17'45'' N, long. 107 deg.39'00'' 
W; to lat. 38 deg.45'40'' N, long. 106 deg.54'00'' W; to lat. 
38 deg.16'40'' N, long. 106 deg.08'00'' W; to lat. 38 deg.09'00'' N, 
long. 106 deg.16'00'' W; to lat. 38 deg.18'30'' N, long. 
106 deg.47'00'' W; thence to point of beginning.
* * * * *
    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on November 24, 1997.
Glenn A. Adams III,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 98-1744 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M