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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42761-42763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17702]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2193; Airspace Docket No. 15-AWP-8]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Establishment of Restricted Area R-2507W; Chocolate 
Mountains, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish restricted area R-2507W, 
Chocolate Mountains, CA, to support training activities that involve 
the use of advanced weapons systems. Proposed R-2507W is needed by the 
United States Marine Corps (USMC) to enhance training and safety 
requirements in order to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready 
military forces.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 3, 2015.

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-2015-
2193 and Airspace Docket No. 15-AWP-8, 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 to 
should be directed to: Kelly Finn, Naval Facilities Engineering Command 
Southwest, 1220 Pacific Highway, Building 1, Room 323, San Diego, CA 
92132; telephone: (619) 532-4452.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Stahl, Airspace Policy and 
Regulations Group, Office of Airspace

[[Page 42762]]

Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

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 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 modify the restricted area airspace at Chocolate Mountains, 
CA, to enhance aviation safety and accommodate essential USMC training 
requirements.

Background

    The Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR), located in 
Imperial and Riverside Counties, CA is primarily used for live-fire 
aviation and ground warfare training conducted by USMC and Navy forces. 
Marine aviation plays a crucial role in the ability of Marine Air-
Ground Task Forces (MAGTF) to conduct maneuver warfare. The ultimate 
goal of Marine aviation is to attain the highest possible combat 
readiness to support expeditionary maneuver warfare while preserving 
and conserving Marine forces and equipment. Embedded within combat 
readiness is the requirement that Marine aviation units maintain the 
ability to rapidly, effectively, and efficiently deploy a combat-
capable aircrew and aircraft on short notice, and maintain the ability 
to quickly and effectively plan for crises and/or contingency 
operations. R-2507W would allow Marine aviation to attain and maintain 
this capability.
    Current procedures require the periodic renewal of the CFAs over 
this area. Because nonparticipating aircraft may transit the CFAs 
without limitation and without warning, safety of flight concerns often 
result in lengthy training interruptions and failure to meet training 
requirements. A higher-level demand for greater throughput of both 
ground and aviation training in order to support real world operations 
will likely increase the frequency of these incidents. The USMC 
considered the existing R-2507N and the adjacent R-2507S restricted 
areas in order to meet the expanded training requirements. The existing 
restricted areas, which are primarily used for aerial ordnance delivery 
and air strikes, are incompatible with required co-use ground training 
activities. Alternate location suitability studies were conducted to 
examine alternatives for the ground training activities. The studies 
determined that the training capabilities offered in the proposed R-
2507W are unique and cannot be replicated elsewhere without significant 
cost, time, and undue degradation or failure to meet USMC requirements.

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-2015-2193 and Airspace Docket No. 15-AWP-8) 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-2015-2193 and Airspace Docket No. 15-AWP-8.'' 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, Western 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., 
Renton, WA 98057.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs 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.

The Proposal

    This proposal would establish new restricted area. R-2507W to 
accommodate live direct and indirect surface to surface fires 
associated with established live fire ranges and maneuver areas 
supporting Naval Special Warfare and Marine Corps ground unit training. 
This proposed restricted area is required to effectively de-conflict 
Department of Defense and civilian air traffic from hazards associated 
with live fire training.
    Specific aviation activities and maximum altitudes within the R-
2507W would include both live fire and non-live fire aviation training 
activities such as Basic Ordnance Delivery, Close Air Support, Air-to-
Air Gunnery, Laser Ranging and Designating, and Air Strikes. As part of 
the Marine Corps' training in R-2507, the Marine Corps Air Command and 
Control organization will develop a battle space management plan. This 
plan will establish ground fire support and airspace coordination 
measures in a way that integrates ground and air operations in planning 
and execution within the MAGTF. Supersonic flight will not be conducted 
as part of the above aviation training activities.
    Surface-to-surface and surface-to-air activities conducted within 
the R-2507W would include live fire from various small arms, machine 
guns, anti-tank weapons, mortars, and hand grenades. Direct fire 
weapons will be used in this area 6-24 hours per day, no less than 300 
days per year. A minimum of 40 percent use of the planned live fire 
ranges will occur during hours of darkness (from 2200-0700).

[[Page 42763]]

    Expansion of the current restricted area complex supports an 
increase in both Marine Corps and Naval aviation and ground training 
requirements. In addition, the expansion would allow critically 
required co-use of R-2507W in order to meet those increased training 
requirements.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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.

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

0
1. The authority citation for part 73 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.  73.25  California (Amended)

0
2. Sec.  73.25 is amended as follows:
* * * * *

R-2507W West Chocolate Mountains, CA [New]

    Boundaries. Beginning at latitude 33[deg]14'00'' N., longitude 
115[deg]22'33'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]13'14'' N., longitude 
115[deg]23'17'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]13'58'' N., longitude 
115[deg]24'26'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]14'22'' N., longitude 
115[deg]25'29'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]15'40'' N., longitude 
115[deg]27'36'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]17'28'' N., longitude 
115[deg]29'42'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]19'17'' N., longitude 
115[deg]32'13'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]21'11'' N., longitude 
115[deg]34'39'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]22'58'' N., longitude 
115[deg]38'19'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]27'26'' N., longitude 
115[deg]43'30'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]29'25'' N., longitude 
115[deg]46'08'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]31'09'' N., longitude 
115[deg]41'12'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]32'50'' N., longitude 
115[deg]37'37'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]32'40'' N., longitude 
115[deg]33'53'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]28'30'' N., longitude 
115[deg]42'13'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]23'40'' N., longitude 
115[deg]33'23'' W.; to latitude 33[deg]21'30'' N., longitude 
115[deg]32'58'' W.; to the point of beginning.
    Designated altitudes. Surface to FL 230.
    Time of designation. Continuous.
    Controlling agency. FAA, Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control 
Center (ARTCC).
    Using agency. USMC, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Air Station 
(MCAS) Yuma, AZ.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2015.
Gary Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2015-17702 Filed 7-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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