Document ID: FAA-2018-0520-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Restricted Areas; Amendments: R-2302; Flagstaff, AZ
Posted Date: 2018-06-27T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30033-30034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13738]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0520; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-9]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of Restricted Area R-2302; Flagstaff, AZ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This action changes the time of designation and controlling 
agency of restricted area R-2302, Flagstaff AZ. The FAA is taking this 
administrative action in response to the United States Army's limited 
utilization of the airspace while updating the responsible controlling 
agency. There are no changes to the boundaries; designated altitudes; 
or activities conducted within the affected restricted area.

DATES: Effective date: 0901 UTC, September 13, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Ready, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace 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 administratively amends the time of designation and 
controlling agency for restricted area R-2302, Flagstaff, AZ.

History

    The FAA evaluates utilization of special use airspace annually. For 
the past five years the utilization of restricted area R-2302 has 
declined steadily. The FAA in coordination with the United States Army, 
has concluded the restricted area is still needed, but at

[[Page 30034]]

an on-call basis only. Therefore, the airspace will be activated by a 
Notice to Airman (NOTAM), four hours in advance as opposed to active 
continuously Monday through Saturday from 0800 to 2400. Additionally, 
the controlling agency has changed from Albuquerque Air Traffic Control 
Center (ARTCC) to Phoenix Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) due 
to a recent alignment of assigned airspace thus making the restricted 
area fall completely within Phoenix TRACONs assigned airspace.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 73 by revising the time of designation and controlling agency 
listed for restricted area R-2302, Flagstaff, AZ. The time of 
designation is changed from ``active daily, 0800-2400 MST, Monday 
through Saturday;'' to ``intermittent by NOTAM only, 4 hours in 
advance, between 0800 to 2400 MST, Monday through Saturday''. 
Additionally, the controlling agency for R-2302 is changed from 
``Albuquerque ARTCC'' to ``Phoenix TRACON''. These are administrative 
changes and do not affect the boundaries, designated altitudes, or 
activities conducted within the restricted area; therefore, notice and 
public procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) are unnecessary.

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. 
It, therefore: (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 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 of updating the time of 
designation and controlling agency for restricted area R-2302; 
Flagstaff, AZ, qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National 
Environmental Policy Act, and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-6.5.d, 
``Modification of the technical description of special use airspace 
(SUA) that does not alter the dimensions, altitudes, or times of 
designation of the airspace (such as changes in designation of the 
controlling or using agency, or correction of typographical errors).'' 
This airspace action is an administrative change to the description of 
restricted area R-2302; Flagstaff, AZ, to update the time of 
designation and controlling agency name. It does not alter the 
dimensions, altitudes, time of designation, or use of the airspace. 
Therefore, this airspace action is not expected to result in any 
significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA Order 
1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, this 
action has been reviewed for factors and circumstances in which a 
normally categorically excluded action may have a significant 
environmental impact requiring further analysis, and it is determined 
that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of 
an environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

    Airspace, Prohibited areas, Restricted areas.

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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.  73.23  [Amended]

0
 2. Section 73.23 is amended as follows:
* * * * *

R-2302 Flagstaff, AZ [Amended]

    By removing ``Time of designation. Active daily, 0800-2400 MST, 
Monday through Saturday'' and adding in their place ``Time of 
designation. Intermittent by NOTAM only, 4 hours in advance, between 
0800 to 2400 MST, Monday-Saturday.
    By removing ``Controlling agency. Albuquerque ARTCC,'' and adding 
in their place ``Controlling agency. FAA, Phoenix TRACON.''
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 20, 2018.
Rodger A. Dean, Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2018-13738 Filed 6-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P