Document ID: FAA-2019-0328-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Amendment of Class E Airspace: Rifle, CO
Posted Date: 2020-03-03T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12434-12435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04262]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0328; Airspace Docket No. 18-ANM-5]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of Class E Airspace; Rifle, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at Rifle Garfield County 
Airport, Rifle, CO. The action increases the circular radius of the 
Class E airspace, designated as a surface area, to the west and 
northwest of the airport. Also, this action amends the Class E airspace 
by adding an airspace area, designated as an extension to a Class D or 
Class E surface area, to the east of the airport. Additionally, this 
action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface by increasing the radius of the airspace around most of the 
airport and reducing the radius to the north and northeast of the 
airport. This action also removes the extensions from this airspace 
area. Lastly, this action makes several administrative corrections to 
the airspace legal descriptions for the airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, May 21, 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: Matthew Van Der Wal, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3695.

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 would amend Class E airspace at Rifle Garfield County Airport, 
Rifle, CO, to ensure the safety and management of Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 69346; December 18, 2019) for Docket No. FAA-2019-0328 
to amend Class E airspace at Rifle Garfield County Airport, Rifle, CO. 
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 E2, E4, and E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraph 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 E airspace 
designation 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 Class E airspace at the Rifle Garfield County Airport, 
Rifle, CO. The action amends the Class E airspace, designated as a 
surface area, by increasing the circular radius in the west and 
northwest of the airport to contain IFR arrivals descending below 1,000 
above the surface. The airspace is described as follows: That airspace 
extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-mile radius of the 
airport beginning at the 339[deg] bearing from the airport, clockwise 
to the 243[deg] bearing from the airport, thence along the 243[deg] 
bearing to a 5.2-mile radius of the airport, clockwise to the 339[deg] 
bearing from the airport, thence along 339[deg] bearing back to the 
4.1-mile radius of the Rifle Garfield County Airport.
    Also, this action amends the Class E airspace by adding an area 
designated as an extension to Class D and Class E2 surface areas. This 
area is described as follows: That airspace extending upward from the 
surface within 1 mile north and 2.5 miles south of the 078[deg] bearing 
from the airport, extending from the 4.1-mile radius to 8.5 miles east 
of the Rifle Garfield County Airport.
    Additionally, this action amends the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface by increasing the radius of the 
airspace around the most of the airport and reducing it to the north 
and northwest of the airport. This action also removes the extensions 
from this airspace area. This area is described as follows: That 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 5.5-
mile radius of the airport beginning at the 336[deg] bearing from the 
airport, clockwise to the 065[deg] bearing from the airport, thence 
along the 065[deg] bearing to an 11-mile radius of the airport, 
clockwise to the 336[deg] bearing from the airport, thence along the 
336[deg] bearing back to the 5.5-mile radius of the Rifle Garfield 
County Airport.

[[Page 12435]]

    Lastly, the action makes several administrative corrections to the 
airspace's legal description. The geographic coordinates are updated to 
lat. 39[deg]31'36'' N, long. 107[deg]43'41'' W to match the FAA's 
aeronautical database. The airport name is updated to ``Rifle Garfield 
County Airport, Rifle, CO'', to match the FAA's aeronautical database. 
The Class E2 surface airspace is full time; the following two sentences 
do not accurately represent the time of use for the Class E2 airspace 
and are removed from the legal description: ``This Class E airspace 
area is effective during specific dates and times established in 
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will 
thereafter be continuously published in the Airport/Facility 
Directory.''
    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 will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this rule, when promulgated, would 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 5-6.5a. 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.

List 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 14 CFR 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM CO E2 Rifle, CO [Amended]

Rifle Garfield County Airport, Rifle, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]31'36'' N, long. 107[deg]43'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-
mile radius of airport beginning at the 339[deg] bearing from the 
airport, clockwise to the 243[deg] bearing from the airport, thence 
along the 243[deg] bearing to a 5.2-mile radius of the airport, 
clockwise to the 339[deg] bearing from the airport, thence along 
339[deg] bearing back to the 4.1-mile radius of the Rifle Garfield 
County Airport.

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

* * * * *

ANM CO E4 Rifle, CO [New]

Rifle Garfield County Airport, Rifle, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]31'36'' N, long. 107[deg]43'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1 mile 
north and 2.5 miles south of the 078[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 4.1-mile radius to 8.5 miles east of the Rifle 
Garfield County Airport.

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

* * * * *

ANM CO E5 Rifle, CO [Amended]

Rifle Garfield County Airport, Rifle, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]31'36'' N, long. 107[deg]43'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 5.5-mile radius of the airport beginning at the 336[deg] 
bearing from the airport, clockwise to the 065[deg] bearing from the 
airport, thence along the 065[deg] bearing to an 11-mile radius of 
the airport, clockwise to the 336[deg] bearing from the airport, 
thence along the 336[deg] bearing back to the 5.5-mile radius of the 
Rifle Garfield County Airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on February 26, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Group Manager, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-04262 Filed 3-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P