Document ID: FAA-2014-0279-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Modification of Class D and Class E Airspace: Pasco, WA
Posted Date: 2014-07-03T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37967-37968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15692]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0279; Airspace Docket No. 14-ANM-3]

Proposed Modification of Class D and Class E Airspace; Pasco, WA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class D and Class E 
airspace at Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco, WA. Controlled airspace is 
necessary to accommodate the new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global 
Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at the 
airport. This action, initiated by the biennial review of the Pasco WA, 
airspace area, would enhance the safety and management of IFR 
operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; 
telephone (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2014-
0279; Airspace Docket No. 14-ANM-3, at the beginning of your comments. 
You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4517.

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, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.
    Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2014-0279 and Airspace Docket No. 14-ANM-3) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped 
postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to FAA 
Docket No. FAA-2014-0279 and Airspace Docket No. 14-ANM-3''. The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified closing date 
for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed 
rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the closing date 
for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRM's

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the address and phone number) 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) Part 71 by modifying Class D airspace, Class E 
surface airspace and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at the Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco, WA. After a 
biennial review of the airspace, the FAA found modification of the 
airspace necessary for the safety and management of aircraft departing 
and arriving under IFR operations at the airport. The Class D airspace 
area would be expanded from the existing 4.3 miles to 4.8 miles, west 
of the airport, from the 255[deg] radial to the 12[deg] radial and two 
segments extending 5.8 miles southwest and northeast of the airport 
would be added. The cutout of the Class D airspace for Vista Airport 
would be eliminated, as Vista Airport is closed. The Class E surface 
airspace would be adjusted to coincide with the dimensions of the Class 
D airspace. The Class E airspace designated as an extension to the 
Class D and Class E surface area would be removed as they are no longer 
needed for IFR operations. The Class E airspace extending 700 feet 
above the surface would be decreased to an 11 mile radius of the 
airport with segments extending from the 11 mile radius to 13 miles 
northeast and southeast of the airport and a segment 4 miles south and 
9 miles north of a 226 degree bearing from the airport extending to 15 
miles southwest of the airport. These actions are necessary to 
accommodate RNAV (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures and for 
the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.
    Class D airspace and Class E airspace designations are published in 
paragraph 5000, 6002, 6004 and 6005 respectively, of FAA Order 7400.9X, 
dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 2013, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and Class E 
airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in this Order.
    The FAA has determined 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)

[[Page 37968]]

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 this proposed 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.
    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the U.S. Code. Subtitle 1, Section 106, describes 
the authority for 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 would modify controlled airspace at Central Airport, Pasco, WA.
    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal 
Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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(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 the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9X, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 
2013 is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D airspace.

* * * * *

ANM WA D Pasco, WA [Modified]

Pasco, Tri-Cities Airport, WA
    (Lat. 46[deg]15'53'' N., long. 119[deg]07'09'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,900 feet MSL within a 4.3-mile radius of Tri-Cities Airport, and 
that airspace within a 4.8-mile radius of the airport from the 
256[deg] bearing from the airport clockwise to the 11[deg] bearing 
from the airport, and that airspace within a 5.8-mile radius of the 
airport from the 11[deg] bearing from the airport clockwise to the 
83[deg] bearing from the airport, and within a 5.8-mile radius of 
the airport from the 213[deg] bearing clockwise to the 256[deg] 
bearing from the airport.2sp 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 Airport/Facility Directory.

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace designated as surface areas.

* * * * *

ANM WA E2 Pasco, WA [Modified]

Pasco, Tri-Cities Airport, WA
    (Lat. 46[deg]15'53'' N., long. 119[deg]07'09'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.3-
mile radius of Tri-Cities Airport and that airspace within 4.8-mile 
radius of the airport from the 256[deg] bearing from the airport 
clockwise to the 11[deg] bearing from the airport and that airspace 
within a 5.8-mile radius of the airport from the 11[deg] bearing 
from the airport clockwise to the 83[deg] bearing from the airport 
and within 5.8-mile radius of the airport from 213[deg] bearing 
clockwise to the 256[deg] bearing from the 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 Airport/
Facility Directory.

Paragraph 6004 Class E airspace areas designated as an extension to 
Class D or Class E surface area.

* * * * *

ANM WA E4 Pasco, WA [Removed]

Pasco, Tri-Cities Airport, WA
    (Lat. 46[deg]15'53'' N., long. 119[deg]07'09'' W.)
Pasco VOR/DME
    (Lat. 46[deg]15'47'' N., long. 119[deg]06'57'' W.)

Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

ANM WA E5 Pasco, WA [Modified]

Pasco, Tri-Cities Airport, WA
    (Lat. 46[deg]15'53'' N., long. 119[deg]07'09'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 7.8-mile radius of the Tri-Cities Airport, and that airspace 
within an 11-mile radius of the airport from the 265[deg] bearing 
from the airport clockwise to 16[deg] bearing from the airport, and 
that airspace from the 54[deg] bearing from the airport clockwise to 
the 112[deg] from the airport, and that airspace 3.5 miles either 
side of the 35[deg] bearing of the airport extending from the 11 
mile radius to 13mile northeast of the airport, and that airspace 
and that airspace 4.0 miles either side of the 133[deg] bearing 
extending from the airport to 13 miles southeast of the airport, and 
that airspace 4 miles southeast and 9 miles northwest of the 
226[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the airport 15 
miles southwest; that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet 
above the surface bounded by a line beginning at lat. 45[deg]49'00'' 
N., long. 118[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 45[deg]49'00'' N., long. 
119[deg]45'00'' W.; to lat. 47[deg]00'00'' N., long. 119[deg]45'00'' 
W., to lat. 47[deg]00'00'' N., long. 118[deg]00'00'' W.; thence to 
the point of origin.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on June 23, 2014.
Christopher Ramirez,
Manager (A), Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2014-15692 Filed 7-2-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P