Document ID: FAA-2017-1032-0005
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Establishment of Class E Airspace, Amendment of Class D Airspace, and Revocation of Class E Airspace: Tacoma, WA
Posted Date: 2019-02-13T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3679-3681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02074]

[[Page 3679]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1032; Airspace Docket No. 17-ANM-4]
RIN 2120-AA66

Establishment of Class E Airspace, Amendment of Class D Airspace, 
and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Tacoma, WA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E surface area airspace, and 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at 
Tacoma Narrows Airport, Tacoma, WA. This action removes Class E 
airspace designated as an extension at Tacoma Narrows Airport. 
Additionally, this action updates the geographic coordinates of the 
airport and replaces the outdated term Airport/Facility Directory with 
the term Chart Supplement in the Class D airspace description. These 
changes are necessary to accommodate airspace redesign for the safety 
and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the 
National Airspace System.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, April 25, 2019. 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 7400.11C, 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 this material 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: Bonnie Malgarini, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198-6547; telephone (206) 231-2329.

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 establishes Class E airspace, amends Class D airspace, and 
removes Class E airspace at Tacoma Narrows Airport, Tacoma, WA to 
support IFR operations at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 4863; February 2, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-2017-1032 to 
establish Class E surface area airspace, and Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Tacoma Narrows Airport, 
Tacoma, WA, and remove Class E airspace designated as an extension at 
the airport. After publication, an error was noted in the airspace 
description of the north extension and in the description of the south 
extension in the section of the preamble entitled, The Rule. The 
description of the north extension should be applied to the south 
extension and the description of the south extension should be applied 
to the north extension. Correcting the errors produced no changes in 
the legal description of the boundaries as the extensions are removed 
by this action. Additionally, there was an error in the latitude 
coordinates for Tacoma Narrows airport. It was listed as lat. 
44[deg]16'05'' N, while the correct coordinates are lat. 47[deg]16'05'' 
N.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two 
comments were received, supporting the proposal.
    While the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) supported 
this proposal, they stated that the NPRM did not comply with FAA 
guidance in Order 7400.2, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters, 
because a graphic was not included in the docket. Additionally, AOPA 
encouraged the FAA to follow their guidance in the Order by making the 
action effective date coincidental to the sectional chart publication 
date.
    The FAA has determined AOPA's comments raised no substantive issues 
with respect to the proposed changes to the airspace addressed in the 
NPRM. To the extent the FAA failed to follow its policy guidance 
reference publishing graphics in the docket and establishing the Class 
D airspace effective date to match the sectional chart date, we note 
the following.
    With respect to AOPA's comment addressing graphics, FAA Order 
74002.L, para 2-3-3.c. requires the official docket to include 
available graphics. For this airspace action, a graphic was produced 
and placed in the docket on February 15, 2018.
    Specific to AOPA's comment regarding the FAA already creating a 
graphical depiction of new or modified airspace overlaid on a Sectional 
Chart for quality assurance purposes, this is not correct nor required 
in all cases. During the airspace reviews, airspace graphics may be 
created, if deemed necessary, to determine if there are any terrain 
issues, or if cases are considered complex. However, in many cases when 
developing an airspace amendment proposal, a graphic is not needed. It 
was unclear if the graphic AOPA argued was already created with a 
sectional chart background was actually the airspace graphic created by 
the Aeronautical Informational Services office in preparation of 
publishing the sectional charts. However, that graphic is normally 
created after the rulemaking determination is published.
    With respect to AOPA's comment addressing effective dates, FAA 
Order 7400.2L, para 2-3-7.a.4. states that, to the extent practicable, 
Class D airspace area and restricted area rules should become effective 
on a sectional chart date and that consideration should be given to 
selecting a sectional chart date that matches a 56-day en route chart 
cycle date. The FAA does consider publishing Class D airspace amendment 
effective dates to coincide with the publication of sectional charts, 
to the extent practicable; however, this consideration is accomplished 
after the NPRM comment period ends. Substantive comments received to 
NPRMs, flight safety concerns, management of IFR operations at affected 
airports, and immediacy of requiring proposed airspace amendments are 
some of the factors that must be taken into consideration when

[[Page 3680]]

selecting the appropriate effective date. After considering all 
factors, the FAA may determine that selecting an effective date that 
conforms to a 56-day en route chart cycle date that is not coincidental 
to sectional chart dates is better for the NAS and users than awaiting 
the next sectional chart date.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraph 
5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11C, dated 
August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and 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 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 
2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C 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 D airspace, establishes Class E surface area 
airspace, removes Class E airspace designated as an extension to a 
Class D or Class E surface area, and establishes Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Tacoma Narrows 
Airport, Tacoma, WA.
    Class D airspace is modified to add a small extension south of the 
airport within 1.7 miles each side of a 189[deg] bearing from the 
airport extending from the 4-mile radius to 5.3 miles south of the 
airport.
    Class E surface area airspace is established coincident with the 
dimensions of the Class D airspace and effective during the hours when 
the Class D is not in effect to protect IFR operations continuously.
    Class E airspace designated as an extension is removed as the 
extension north of the airport (within 1.8 miles each side of the 
187[deg] bearing from Scenn OM extending from the 4-mile radius to 1 
mile south of the OM) protects no arrival aircraft within 1,000 feet of 
the surface. Also, the extension to the south (within 1.8 miles each 
side of the 009[deg] bearing from the Graye NDB extending from the 4-
mile radius to .9 miles north of the NDB; excluding that airspace 
within the Tacoma, McChord AFB, WA, Class D airspace area) protects no 
arrival aircraft within 1,000 feet of the surface beyond 5.3 miles 
south of the airport. By eliminating the unnecessary airspace, the 
remaining extension to the south is less than 2 nautical miles in 
length, and must be Class D.
    Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet is established at 
Tacoma Narrows Airport within 4 miles each side of the 007[deg] and 
187[deg] bearings, respectively, from the airport extending to 8 miles 
north and 7 miles south of the airport. This new airspace duplicates 
the larger Seattle Class E airspace area, and ensures sufficient 
airspace is designated for Tacoma Narrows Airport in case of any future 
modification.

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, will 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.

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 7400.11C, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and 
effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ANM WA D Tacoma, WA [Amended]

Tacoma Narrows Airport, WA
    (Lat. 47[deg]16'05'' N, long. 122[deg]34'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,800 feet MSL within a 4-mile radius of Tacoma Narrows Airport, and 
within 1.7 miles each side of the 189[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 4-mile radius to 5.3 miles south of the airport, 
excluding that airspace within the Tacoma, McChord AFB, WA, Class D 
airspace area. 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 Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ANM WA E2 Tacoma, WA [New]

Tacoma Narrows Airport, WA
    (Lat. 47[deg]16'05'' N, long. 122[deg]34'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4-mile 
radius of the Tacoma Narrows Airport, and within 1.7 miles each side 
of the 189[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 4-mile 
radius to 5.3 miles south of the airport, excluding that airspace 
within the Tacoma, McChord AFB, WA, Class D airspace area. 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.
* * * * *

ANM WA E4 Tacoma, WA [Removed]

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

* * * * *

ANM WA E5 Tacoma, WA [New]

Tacoma Narrows Airport, WA
    (Lat. 47[deg]16'05'' N, long. 122[deg]34'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 4 miles each

[[Page 3681]]

side of the 007[deg] bearing from the Tacoma Narrows Airport 
extending to 8 miles north of the airport, and within 4 miles each 
side of a 187[deg] bearing from the airport extending to 7 miles 
south of the airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on January 31, 2019.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-02074 Filed 2-12-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P