01-31518. Establishment of a Class E Enroute Domestic Airspace Area, Iron Mountain, CA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Direct final rule, requests for comments.

SUMMARY:

This action establishes a Class E enroute domestic airspace area beginning at 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL) in the vicinity of Iron Mountain, CA, to replace existing Class G uncontrolled airspace.

DATES:

Effective Date: 0901 UTC February 21, 2002. Comment Date: Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before January 22, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on the direct final rule in triplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Attn: Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-520, Docket No. 01-AWP-27, Air Traffic Division, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, California 90009.

The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 6007, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the Office of the Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Debra Trindle, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Specialist, AWP-520, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This action will establish a Class E enroute domestic airspace area with a base altitude of 1,200 feet AGL in the vicinity of Iron Mountain, CA. A review of the airspace in southern California revealed large areas of uncontrolled (Class G) airspace immediately adjacent to numerous federal airways. Because this airspace is Class G (uncontrolled) below 14,500 feet mean sea level (MSL), the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) cannot initiate instrument flight rules (IFR) air traffic services within Class G airspace. IFR services may be provided to aircraft operating in Class G airspace only when the pilot requests such service. This procedure effectively limits the flexibility of Los Angeles ARTCC in providing off route vectors and direct routing to aircraft in these areas. En route domestic airspace areas are intended to create controlled airspace in those areas where there is a requirement, or need, to provide Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) en route air traffic control services but the Federal airway segment is inadequate. The intended effect of this action is to establish Class E controlled airspace within the boundaries of the above-mentioned area, thereby replacing the existing uncontrolled airspace.

Class E enroute domestic airspace areas are published in Paragraph 6006 of FAA Order 7400.9J dated August 31, 2001, and effective September 16, 2001, 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 is issuing it as a direct final rule. 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 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. 01-AWP-27.” 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 noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons discussed in the preamble, this regulation only involves an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this regulation—(1) Is not a “signification 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 will not have a 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

In consideration of the foregoing, 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.

§ 71.1

[Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 31, 1001, and effective September 16, 2001, is amended as follows:

* * * * *

Paragraph 6006 Enroute Domestic Airspace Areas

* * * * *

Iron Mountain, CA [NEW]

That airspace extending upward from 1200 feet above the surface bounded on the north and east by V135, bounded on the south by V16-372, bounded on the west by V208-514 and V514-538, excluding that airspace within the Needles, Blythe, Parker, and Twentynine Palms Class E airspace areas, and that airspace designated for federal airways.

Issued in Los Angeles, California, on October 29, 2001.

Dawna J. Vicars,

Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific Region.