Document ID: FAA-2017-0185-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Amendment of Class E Airspace: Pampa, TX and Seminole, TX
Posted Date: 2017-07-31T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 145 (Monday, July 31, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35437-35438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15873]

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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 35437]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0185; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASW-6]

Amendment of Class E Airspace for the Following Texas Towns; 
Pampa, TX and Seminole, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Perry Lefors Field, Pampa, TX and Gaines 
County Airport, Seminole, TX. Decommissioning of non-directional radio 
beacons (NDB) and cancellation of NDB approaches makes it necessary to 
implement new area navigation (RNAV) procedures for the safety and 
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, September 14, 2017. 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 7400.11A, 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 FAA Order 7400.11A at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Tweedy (prepared by Ron 
Laster), Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, 
Central Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; 
telephone (817) 222-5802.

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 modifies Class E airspace at Perry Lefors Field, Pampa, TX and 
Gaines County Airport, Seminole, TX to ensure the safety of IFR 
operations at these airports.

History

    The FAA published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) (82 FR 18406, April 19, 2017) Docket No. FAA-2017-
0185 to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Perry Lefors Field, Pampa, TX and Gaines County Airport, 
Seminole, TX. 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 E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class 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 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11A 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 E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Perry Lefors Field, Pampa, TX. Specifically, the action 
removed the segment 3 miles each side of the 354[deg] bearing from the 
Pampa NDB extending from the 7.3-mile radius to 10.1 miles north of the 
airport, and reduces the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface at the airport from a 7.3-mile radius to a 6.4-
mile radius.
    This action also modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Gaines County Airport, Seminole, TX. by 
removing the segment 2.5 miles each side of the 189[deg] bearing from 
the Gaines CO NDB extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 7.7 miles south 
of the airport.
    Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of 
the Pampa (NDB), and Gaines County NDB and cancellation of NDB 
approaches, and implementation of area navigation (RNAV) procedures at 
these airports. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and 
management of the standard instrument approach procedures for IFR 
operations at the airports.

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)

[[Page 35438]]

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 7400.11A, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and 
effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Pampa, TX [Amended]

Pampa, Perry Lefors Field, TX
    (Lat. 35[deg]36'47'' N., long. 100[deg]59'47'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of Perry Lefors Field.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Seminole, TX [Amended]

Seminole, Gaines County Airport, TX
    (Lat. 32[deg]40'31'' N., long. 102[deg]39'10'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of Gaines County Airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 20, 2017.
Vonnie Royal,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2017-15873 Filed 7-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P