[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70326-70327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33598]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Airspace Docket No. 98-ASW-49]
Revision of Class E Airspace; Austin, TX
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment revises the description of the Austin Class E
airspace area by changing its point of origin from the Robert Mueller
Municipal Airport to the airport's present geographical coordinates.
The FAA is taking this action due to the planned closure of Robert
Mueller Municipal Airport and the transfer of airport operations to
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The intent of this action is to
facilitate the transfer of airport operations and provide adequate
controlled airspace for aircraft operating under Instrument Flight
Rules (IFR) in the vicinity of Austin, TX.
DATES: Effective: 0601 UTC, May 20, 1999, Comment Date: Comments must
be received on or before February 19, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule in triplicate to Manager, Airspace
Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration,
Southwest Region, Docket No. 98-ASW-49, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0520. The
official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham
Boulevard, Room 663, Fort Worth, TX, between 9;00 AM and 3:00 PM,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An informal docket may
also be examined during normal business hours at the Airspace Branch,
Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest
Region, Room 414, Fort Worth, TX.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald J. Day, Airspace Branch, Air
Traffic Division, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration,
Fort Worth, TX 76193-0520, telephone 817-322-5593.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 revises the
location of the Class E airspace at Austin, TX. This action revises the
description of the Austin, TX Class E airspace area by changing its
point of origin from the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport to the
airport's present geographical coordinates. The FAA is taking this
action due to the planned closure of Robert Mueller Municipal Airport
and the transfer of airport operations to Austin-Bergstrom
International Airport. The intent of this action is to facilitate the
transfer of airport operations and provide adequate controlled airspace
for aircraft operating under IFR in the vicinity of Austin, TX.
Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraph 6005 of
FAA Order 7400.9F, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September
16, 1998, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR Sec. 71.1. The
Class E airspace designation listed in this document will be published
subsequently in the order.
The Direct Final Rule Procedure
The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in any
adverse or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct
final rule. A substantial number of previous opportunities provided to
the public to comment on substantially identical actions have resulted
in negligible adverse comments or objections. 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 final rule and was not
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on
this rule. 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 is 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. 98-ASW-49.'' 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
[[Page 70327]]
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.
Further, the FAA has determined that this regulation is
noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments
and only involves an established body of technical regulations that
require frequent and routine amendments to keep them operationally
current. Therefore, I certify that this 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) if promulgated, will not have
a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act. Since this rule involves routine matters that will
only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it does not
warrant preparation of a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis because the
anticipated impact is so minimal.
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 14 CFR part 71 as follows:
PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
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]
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16,
1998, 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 Austin, TX [Revised]
Point of Origin
(Lat. 30 deg.17'55'' N., long. 97 deg.42'06'' W.)
Austin, Lakeway Airpark, TX
(Lat. 30 deg.21'27'' N., long. 97 deg.59'40'' W.)
Lago Vista, Rusty Allen Airport, TX
(Lat. 30 deg.29'55'' N., long. 97 deg.58'10'' W.)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 14-mile radius of the Point of Origin and within a 6.4-mile
radius of Lakeway Airpark and within a 6.4-mile radius of Lago Vista
Rusty Allen Airport.
* * * * *
Issued in Fort Worth, TX, on December 10, 1998.
Albert L. Viselli,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 98-33598 Filed 12-18-98; 8:45 am]
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