Document ID: FAA-2019-0808-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Amendment of Class D Airspace and Amendment and Revocation of the Class E Airspace: Multiple Texas Towns
Posted Date: 2020-06-08T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 110 (Monday, June 8, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34964-34967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11610]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0808; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASW-12]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of Class D Airspace and Amendment and Revocation of the
Class E Airspace; Multiple Texas Towns

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action affects several airports in Texas by amending
Class D airspace and Class E surface airspace; revoking Class E
airspace designated as an extension to a Class E surface area; amending
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface; and
removing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the
surface. This action is due to airspace reviews caused by the
decommissioning of the Hobby and Temple VHF omnidirectional range (VOR)
navigation aids as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON)
Program. The geographic coordinates and names of several airports would
also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, September 10, 2020. 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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://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 7400.11D at NARA, email fedreg.legal@nara.gov
or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

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 the Class D airspace at Conroe-North Houston Regional
Airport, Conroe, TX; Scholes International Airport at Galveston,
Galveston, TX; and Sugar Land Regional Airport, Houston, TX; amends the
Class E surface airspace at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport,
Scholes International Airport at Galveston, and Sugar Land Regional
Airport; revokes the Class E airspace designated as an extension to a
Class E surface area at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport,
Temple, TX; amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface at Chambers County Airport, Anahuac, TX; Scholes
International Airport at Galveston; Conroe-North Houston Regional
Airport; Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, Angleton/Lake Jackson, TX;
and Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport; and removes the
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at
Wood No. 2 Airport, Brookshire, TX, and Covey Trails Airport, Fulshear,
TX, which are contained within the Houston, TX, airspace legal
description,

[[Page 34605]]

to support instrument flight rule operations at these airports.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal
Register (84 FR 67886; December 12, 2019) for Docket No. FAA-2019-0808
to amend Class D airspace at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport,
Conroe, TX; Scholes International Airport at Galveston, Galveston, TX;
and Sugar Land Regional Airport, Houston, TX; amend Class E surface
airspace at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, Scholes
International Airport at Galveston, and Sugar Land Regional Airport;
revoke the Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class E
surface area at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport, Temple,
TX; amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the
surface at Chambers County Airport, Anahuac, TX; Scholes International
Airport at Galveston; Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport; Texas Gulf
Coast Regional Airport, Angleton/Lake Jackson, TX; and Draughon-Miller
Central Texas Regional Airport; and remove Class E airspace extending
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Wood No. 2 Airport,
Brookshire, TX, and Covey Trails Airport, Fulshear, TX, which are
contained within the Houston, TX, airspace legal description.
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 D and E airspace designations are published in paragraph
5000, 6002, 6004 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11D, dated
August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which is incorporated
by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and 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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15,
2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D 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:
    Amends the Class D airspace to within a 4.8-mile radius (increased
from a 4.1-mile radius) of Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport,
Conroe, TX; removes the Navasota VORTAC and Humble VORTAC and the
associated exclusion area from the airspace legal description; amends
the exclusion area to ``. . . excluding that airspace from lat.
30[deg]25'24'' N, long. 95[deg]22'11'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'32'' N,
long. 95[deg]22'51'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'12'' N, long. 95[deg]19'51''
W''; updates the name and geographic coordinates of Conroe-North
Houston Regional Airport (previously Lone Star Executive Airport) to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and replaces the
outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart Supplement'';
    Amends the Class D airspace at Scholes International Airport at
Galveston (previously Scholes INTL at Galveston), Galveston, TX, by
updating the name of the airport to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautical database; corrects the header of the airspace legal
description from ``Galveston, Galveston, TX'' to ``Galveston, TX''; and
replaces the outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart
Supplement'';
    Amends the Class D airspace to within a 4.2-mile radius (decreased
from a 5.8-mile radius) of Sugar Land Regional Airport, Houston, TX;
corrects the header of the airspace legal description from ``Houston
Sugar Land, TX'' to ``Houston, TX'' to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautical database; removes the city associated with the airport
from the airspace legal description to comply with FAA Order 7400.2M,
Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters; and removes ``(previously
called Airport/Facility Directory)'' as it is no longer needed;
    Amends the Class E surface airspace to within a 4.8-mile radius
(increased from a 4.1-mile radius) of Conroe-North Houston Regional
Airport, Conroe, TX; removes the Navasota VORTAC and Humble VORTAC and
the associated exclusion area from the airspace legal description;
amends the exclusion area to ``. . . excluding that airspace from lat.
30[deg]25'24'' N, long. 95[deg]22'11'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'32'' N,
long. 95[deg]22'51'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'12'' N, long. 95[deg]19'51''
W''; updates the name and geographic coordinates of Conroe-North
Houston Regional Airport (previously Lone Star Executive Airport) to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and replaces the
outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart Supplement'';
    Amends the Class E surface airspace at Scholes International
Airport at Galveston (previously Scholes INTL at Galveston), Galveston,
TX, by updating the name of the airport to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautical database; and replaces the outdated term ``Airport/
Facility Directory'' with ``Chart Supplement'';
    Amends the Class E surface airspace to within a 4.2-mile radius
(decreased from a 5.8-mile radius) of Sugar Land Regional Airport,
Houston, TX; corrects the header of the airspace legal description from
``Houston Sugar Land, TX'' to ``Houston, TX'' to coincide with the
FAA's aeronautical database; removes the city associated with the
airport from the airspace legal description to comply with FAA Order
7400.2M; and removes ``(previously called Airport/Facility Directory)''
as it is no longer needed;
    Amends the Class E surface airspace at Draughon-Miller Central
Texas Regional Airport, Temple, TX, by removing the city associated
with the airport in the airspace legal description to comply with FAA
Order 7400.2M;
    Removes the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a
Class E surface area at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport,
Temple, TX, as it is no longer needed;
    Amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface to within a 6.1-mile radius (decreased from a 6.3-
mile radius) at Chambers County Airport, Anahuac, TX; removes the
Anahuac RBN and the associated extension from the airspace legal
description; and updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;
    Amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface by removing the Chambers County Airport, Anahuac, TX,
and the associated exclusion area from the Houston, TX, airspace legal
description as it is no longer needed; to within a 6.6-mile radius
(decreased from a 7.6-mile radius) of Scholes International Airport at
Galveston, Galveston, TX, which is contained within the Houston, TX,
airspace legal description; removes the city associated with the
Scholes International Airport from the airspace legal description to
comply with FAA Order 7400.2M; removes the Woods No. 2 Airport,
Brookshire, TX, and Covey Trails Airport, Fulshear, TX, which are
contained within the Houston, TX, airspace legal description from the
Houston, TX, airspace legal description, and revokes the associated
Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
at these airports as the instrument procedures at these airports have
been cancelled and the airspace is no longer required; to

[[Page 34606]]

within a 7.3-mile radius (increased from a 6.6-mile radius) of Conroe-
North Houston Regional Airport, Conroe, TX, which is contained within
the Houston, TX, airspace legal description; and amends the airspace
boundary from ``. . . thence from lat. 29[deg]17'04'' N long.
95[deg]00'13'' W . . .'' to ``. . . thence from lat. 29[deg]16'48'' N,
long. 94[deg]59'06'' W . . . .''; updates the names of Scholes
International Airport at Galveston (previously Scholes International at
Galveston) and Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport (previously Lone
Star Executive Airport) to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical
database; and updates the geographic coordinates of Conroe-North
Houston Regional Airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical
database;
    Amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface to within a 6.6-mile radius (decreased from a 6.7-
mile radius) of Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, Angleton/Lake
Jackson, TX; updates the header of the airspace legal description from
``Lake Jackson, TX'' to ``Angleton/Lake Jackson, TX'' to coincide with
the FAA's aeronautical database; removes the city associated with the
airport from the airspace legal description to comply with FAA Order
7400.2M; and updates the name and geographic coordinates of the Texas
Gulf Coast Regional Airport (previously Brazoria County Airport) to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;
    And amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport,
Temple, TX, by removing the city associated with the airport to comply
with FAA Order 7400.2M; updates the name of the Draughon-Miller Central
Texas Regional: RWY 15-LOC (previously Draughon-Miller Central Texas
Regional Localizer) to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;
removes the Temple VOR and the associated extension from the airspace
legal description; removes the extension southwest of the airport as it
is no longer needed; and amends the extension northwest of the airport
to within 4 miles either side of the 343[deg] (previously 336[deg])
bearing of the Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional: RWY 15-LOC
extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 14.2 miles (previously 14.4
miles) northwest of the airport.
    These actions are the result of airspace reviews caused by the
decommissioning of the Hobby and Temple VORs, which provided navigation
information for the instrument procedures at these airports, as part of
the VOR MON Program.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is
published yearly and effective on September 15.

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

0
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.

Sec.  71.1   [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11D,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASW TX D Conroe, TX [Amended]

Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, TX
    (Lat. 30[deg]21'12'' N, long. 95[deg]24'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,700 feet MSL within a 4.8-mile radius of Conroe-North Houston
Regional Airport, excluding that airspace from lat. 30[deg]25'24''
N, long. 95[deg]22'11'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'32'' N, long.
95[deg]22'51'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'12'' N, long. 95[deg]19'51'' W.
This Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates
and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in
the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

ASW TX D Galveston, TX [Amended]

Scholes International Airport at Galveston, TX
    (Lat. 29[deg]15'55'' N, long. 94[deg]51'38'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface up to but not
including 2,500 feet MSL within a 4.1-mile radius of Scholes
International Airport at Galveston. This Class D airspace area is
effective during the specific dates and times established in advance
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter
be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

ASW TX D Houston, TX [Amended]

Sugar Land Regional Airport, TX
    (Lat. 29[deg]37'20'' N, long. 95[deg]39'24'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of Sugar Land Regional
Airport. This Class D airspace area is effective during the specific
dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in
the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ASW TX E2 Conroe, TX [Amended]

Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, TX
    (Lat. 30[deg]21'12'' N, long. 95[deg]24'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,700 feet MSL within a 4.8-mile radius of Conroe-North Houston
Regional Airport, excluding that airspace from lat. 30[deg]25'24''
N, long. 95[deg]22'11'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'32'' N, long.
95[deg]22'51'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'12'' N, long. 95[deg]19'51'' W.
This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates
and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in
the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

[[Page 34607]]

ASW TX E2 Galveston, TX [Amended]

Scholes International Airport at Galveston, TX
    (Lat. 29[deg]15'55'' N, long. 94[deg]51'38'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface up to but not
including 2,500 feet MSL within a 4.1-mile radius of Scholes
International Airport at Galveston. This Class E airspace area is
effective during the specific dates and times established in advance
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter
be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

ASW TX E2 Houston, TX [Amended]

Sugar Land Regional Airport, TX
    (Lat. 29[deg]37'20'' N, long. 95[deg]39'24'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of Sugar Land Regional
Airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific
dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in
the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

ASW TX E2 Temple, TX [Amended]

Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]09'07'' N, long. 97[deg]24'28'' W)

    Within a 4.2-mile radius of Draughon-Miller Central Texas
Regional Airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to
Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously
published in the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

ASW TX E4 Temple, TX [Removed]

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Anahuac, TX [Amended]

Chambers County Airport, TX
    (Lat. 29[deg]46'11'' N, long. 94[deg]39'49'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.1-mile radius of Chambers County Airport.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Houston, TX [Amended]

Point of Origin
    (Lat. 30[deg]35'01'' N, long. 95[deg]28'01'' W)
Scholes International Airport at Galveston, TX
    (Lat. 29[deg]15'55'' N, long. 94[deg]51'38'' W)
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, TX
    (Lat. 30[deg]21'12'' N, long. 95[deg]24'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within an area bounded by a line beginning at the Point of Origin to
lat. 29[deg]45'00'' N, long. 94[deg]44'01'' W; thence from lat.
29[deg]45'00'' N, long. 94[deg]44'01'' W to a point of tangency with
the east arc of a 6.6-mile radius of Scholes International Airport
at Galveston, and within a 6.6-mile radius of Scholes International
Airport at Galveston; thence from lat. 29[deg]16'48'' N, long.
94[deg]59'06'' W; to lat. 29[deg]30'01'' N, long. 95[deg]54'01'' W;
to lat. 30[deg]26'01'' N, long. 95[deg]42'01'' W; to the Point of
Origin, and within a 7.3-mile radius of Conroe-North Houston
Regional Airport.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Angleton/Lake Jackson, TX [Amended]

Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, TX
    (Lat. 29[deg]06'31'' N, long. 95[deg]27'44'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.6-mile radius of Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Temple, TX [Amended]

Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]09'07'' N, long. 97[deg]24'28'' W)
Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional: RWY 15-LOC
    (Lat. 31[deg]08'20'' N, long. 97[deg]24'16'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.7-mile radius of Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional
Airport, and within 4 miles either side of the 343[deg] bearing of
the Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional: RWY 15-LOC extending
from the 6.7-mile radius to 14.2 miles northwest of the airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 26, 2020.
Steven T. Phillips,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-11610 Filed 6-5-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P