[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 5, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56927-56928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28414]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 73
[Airspace Docket No. 96-AGL-16]
Proposed Amendment to Time of Designation for Restricted Area R-
4305, Lake Superior, MN
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This proposed rule amends the time of designation for
Restricted Area 4305 (R-4305), Lake Superior, MN, by reducing the
requirement for the issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) from 12
hours in advance to 2 hours in advance of activation of the airspace.
The U.S. Air Force proposed this amendment to permit greater
flexibility in scheduling R-4305.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 17, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air
Traffic Division, AGL-500, Docket No. 96-AGL-16, Federal Aviation
Administration, O'Hare Lake Office Center, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des
Plaines, IL 60018.
The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of
the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
An informal docket may also be examined during normal business
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Airspace and Rules
Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management,
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.
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,
and energy-related aspects of the proposal. Communications should
identify the airspace docket number and be submitted in triplicate to
the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge
receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with those
comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following
statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 96-AGL-16.'' 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 notice may be changed in light of
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for
examination in the Rules 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
Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration,
Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Attention: Airspace and
Rules Division, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the
notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a
mailing list for future NPRM's should call the FAA's Office of
Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677 for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A,
which describes the application procedure.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 of the Code of
Federal Aviation Regulations part 73 (14 CFR part 73) to amend the time
of designation for R-4305 from the current ``Intermittent by NOTAM, 12
hours in
[[Page 56928]]
advance,'' to ``Intermittent by NOTAM, 2 hours in advance.'' The
current 12-hour in advance NOTAM requirement does not permit the using
agency sufficient flexibility to efficiently accomplish its mission in
the event of maintenance or weather delays, or other operational
factors. This proposal would not alter the existing boundaries,
altitudes, or designated purpose of R-4305.
The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves
an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current.
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, will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the
criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
This proposal would not affect the existing boundaries, altitudes,
or activities conducted in R-4305. There would be no change from
current operations and no new air traffic procedures would be necessary
as a result of this proposed rule. Therefore, the FAA has determined
that this action is not subject to environmental assessments and
procedures in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1D, Policies and
Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts.''
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73
Airspace, Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:
PART 73--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 73 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.
2. Section 73.43 is amended as follows:
Sec. 73.43 [Amended]
R-4305 Lake Superior, MN--[Amended]
By removing ``Time of Designation. Intermittent by NOTAM, 12 hours
in advance,'' and substituting ``Time of designation. Intermittent by
NOTAM, 2 hours in advance.''
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 29, 1996.
Jeff Griffith,
Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 96-28414 Filed 11-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
