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###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Aviation Administration

          - 14 CFR Part 71
          - [Docket No. FAA-2017-0458; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASW-8]

# AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

# ACTION:

Final rule.

# SUMMARY:

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hemphill County Airport, Canadian, TX, and Wheeler Municipal Airport, Wheeler, TX. This action is due to the decommissioning of the Sayre co-located VHF omnidirectional range and tactical air navigation system (VORTAC) facility, which provided navigation guidance for the instrument procedures to these airports. The VORTAC is being decommissioned as part of the VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. Additionally, the geographic coordinates of the airports are being adjusted to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

# DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, February 1, 2018. 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 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

# ADDRESSES:

                        FAA Order 7400.11B, 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 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 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to                         *https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.*

FAA Order 7400.11, 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 extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hemphill County Airport, Canadian, TX, and Wheeler Municipal Airport, Wheeler, TX, to support IFR operations at these airports.

## History

                    On June 20, 2017, the FAA published in the                     **Federal Register**                     (82 FR 28033) Docket No. FAA-2017-0458, a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hemphill County Airport, Canadian, TX, and Wheeler Municipal Airport, Wheeler, TX, to enhance the safety and management of IFR operations at these airports. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.                

                    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017, which                           ( print page 47960)                        is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations 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 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed in the                     **ADDRESSES**                     section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B 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 to:

Within a 6.5-mile radius (reduced from a 6.8-mile radius) of Hemphill County Airport with an extension 1 mile either side of the 224° bearing from the airport from the 6.5-mile radius to 6.6 miles south of the airport, and updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and

Within a 6.3-mile radius (reduced from a 6.4-mile radius) of Wheeler Municipal Airport and updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Sayre VORTAC as part of the VOR MON Program and to bring the airspace in compliance with FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of IFR operations at these airports.

Except for an editorial change removing “JO” where an FAA Order is cited throughout the document, this rule is the same as proposed in the NPRM.

## 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

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.

§ 71.1 

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

## ASW TX E5 Canadian, TX [Amended]

Canadian, Hemphill County Airport, TX

(Lat. 35°53′42″ N., long. 100°24′14″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.5-mile radius of Hemphill County Airport, and within 1 mile either side of the 224° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 6.6 miles south of the airport.

* * * * *

## ASW TX E5 Wheeler, TX [Amended]

Wheeler Municipal Airport, TX

(Lat. 35°27′04″ N., long. 100°12′00″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.3-mile radius of Wheeler Municipal Airport.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 5, 2017.

Walter Tweedy,

Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.

[FR Doc. 2017-22232 Filed 10-13-17; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P