06-8845. Establishment of Class E Airspace; Bethel Regional Airport, ME

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Direct final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

This action establishes a Class E airspace area at Bethel Regional Airport, Bethel, ME (K0B1) to provide for adequate controlled airspace for those aircraft using the new Helicopter Area Navigation (RNAV), 317 Instrument Approach Procedure to the Airport.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, January 18, 2007. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference under 1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before November 27, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on the rule to the Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket number, FAA-2006-26031; airspace docket number, 06-ANE-02, at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person at the Dockets Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone [phone]) is located on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at the street address stated above.

An informal docket may be examined during normal business hours in the FAA Eastern Service Center, by contacting the Manager, System Support Group, AJO-2E2, Federal Aviation Administration, Eastern Service Center, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 30337.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark D. Ward, Manager, System Support Group, AJO-2E2, FAA Eastern Service Center, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 30337; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A new Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) to Bethel Regional Airport, Bethel, ME (K0B1), the Helicopter RNAV 317 approach, requires the establishment of Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in the vicinity of the airport. This action provides adequate controlled airspace to contain those aircraft executing the Helicopter RNAV 317 approach. Class E airspace designations for airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9P, effective September 16, 2006, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document will be published subsequently in this Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse or negative comment, and, therefore, issues it as a direct final rule. 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. Unless a written adverse or negative comment or a written notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is received within the comment period, the regulation will become effective on the date specified above. After the close of the comment period, the FAA will publish a document in the Federal Register indicating that no adverse or negative comments were received and confirming the date on which the final rule will become effective. If the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an adverse or negative comment, or written notice of intent to submit such a comment, a document withdrawing the direct final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a direct final rule, and was not preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of the comments received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this action will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Docket No. FAA 2006-26031; Airspace Docket No. 06-ANE-02”. The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons discussed in the preamble, I certify that this regulation (1) Is not a “significant regualtory action” under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a “significant rule” under Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) does not warrant preparation of a Regulatory Evaluation as these routine matters will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation. It is certified that these proposed rules will not have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

• Airspace
• Incorporation by reference
• Navigation (air)

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) as follows:

PART 71—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for 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.

§ 71.1

[Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9P, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, effective September 16, 2006, is amended as follows:

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

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ANE ME E5 Bethel Regional Airport, ME [New]

Bethel, Maine

(Lat. 44°25′30.6″ N., long. 70°48′35.7″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.0-mile radius of Bethel Regional Airport, Bethel, ME.

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Issued in College Park, GA, on October 5, 2006.

Mark D. Ward,

Manager, System Support Group, AJO-2E2, Eastern Service Center.