[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3856-3857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1927]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AEA-47]


Proposed Revocation of Class E Airspace; Pennington Gap, VA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to remove the Class E airspace area at 
Lee County Airport, Pennington Gap, VA. The Nondirectional Radio Beacon 
(NDB) or Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach 
Procedure (SIAP) was canceled on September 11, 1997. This was the only 
SIAP to Lee County, Airport. Consequently, the need for Class E 
airspace no longer exists for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations 
at the airport. Adoption of this proposal would result in the affected 
area reverting to Class G airspace.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 26, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Airspace Branch, AEA-520, Docket No. 97-AEA-47, F.A.A. Eastern Region, 
Federal Building #111, John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport, Jamaica, NY 
11430.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel, AEA-7, F.A.A. Eastern Region, Federal Building #111, John F. 
Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, New York 11430.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Airspace Branch, AEA-520, F.A.A. Eastern Region, Federal 
Building #111, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, NY 
11430.


[[Page 3857]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Francis T. Jordon, Jr., Airspace Specialist, Airspace Branch, AEA-
520, F.A.A. Eastern Region, Federal Building #111, John F. Kennedy 
International Airport, Jamaica, New York 11430; telephone: (718) 553-
4521.

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, 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-
AEA-47.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter. All communications received on or before the 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 in the Rules Docket both before and after the closing date 
for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
the FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Office of the Regional Counsel, 
AEA-7, F.A.A. Eastern Region, Federal Building #111, John F. Kennedy 
International Airport, Jamaica, NY 11430. Communications must identify 
the notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a 
mailing list for future NPRMs should also request a copy of Advisory 
Circular No. 11-2A, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 to remove the Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Lee County 
Airport, Pennington Gap, VA. The NDB or GPS A SIAP has been canceled, 
negating the need for airspace to accommodate IFR operations. The area 
will be removed from appropriate aeronautical charts. Class E airspace 
designations for airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet or more 
above the surface 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 will be removed subsequently from 
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. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation--(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 would only affect air traffic procedures 
and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed rule would not 
have 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 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.

* * * * *

AEA VA E5  Pennington Gap, VA [Removed]

* * * * *
    Issued in Jamaica, New York, on December 29, 1997.
Franklin D. Hatfield,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 98-1927 Filed 1-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M