2020-09486. Amendment of Class E Airspace; McAlester, Henryetta, and Poteau, OK  

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    AGENCY:

    Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

    ACTION:

    Final rule.

    SUMMARY:

    This action amends the Class E surface area airspace at McAlester Regional Airport, McAlester, OK, and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Henryetta Municipal Airport, Henryetta, OK; McAlester Regional Airport; and Robert S. Kerr Airport, Poteau, OK. These actions are the result of airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the McAlester VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at these airports. The geographic coordinates of the McAlester Regional Airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at these airports.

    DATES:

    Effective 0901 UTC, July 16, 2020. 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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://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 7400.11D at NARA, email fedreg.legal@nara.gov or go to https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

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    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 amends the Class E surface area airspace at McAlester Regional Airport, McAlester, OK, and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Henryetta Municipal Airport, Henryetta, OK; McAlester Regional Airport; and Robert S. Kerr Airport, Poteau, OK, to support IFR operations at these airports.

    History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (85 FR 5350; January 30, 2020) for Docket No. FAA-2019-1044 to amend the Class E surface area airspace at McAlester Regional Airport, McAlester, OK, and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Henryetta Municipal Airport, Henryetta, OK; McAlester Regional Airport; and Robert S. Kerr Airport, Poteau, OK. 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 6002 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11D, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, 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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D lists Start Printed Page 26606Class 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:

    Amends the Class E surface area airspace at McAlester Regional Airport, McAlester, OK, by adding an extension within 1 mile each side of the 020° bearing from the airport extending from the 4-mile radius to 4.1 miles north of the airport; and updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;

    Amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to within a 6.3-mile radius (decreased from a 7.1-mile radius) at Henryetta Municipal Airport, Henryetta, OK; and removes the Henryetta Medical Center Heliport and associated airspace from the Henryetta, OK, airspace legal description as the instrument procedures at the heliport have been cancelled and the airspace is no longer required;

    Amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at McAlester Regional Airport, McAlester, OK, by removing the McAlester VORTAC and associated extensions from the airspace legal description; removes the Wampa LOM and associated extension from the airspace legal description as it is no longer required; removes the McAlester Regional Health Center Heliport and associated airspace contained within the McAlester, OK, airspace legal description as the instrument procedures at the heliport have been cancelled and the airspace is no longer required; removes the exclusionary language from the airspace legal description as it is no longer required; adds an extension 2 miles each side of the 020° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 10.4 miles north of the airport; and adds an extension 2 miles each side of the 200° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 10.5 miles south of the airport; and updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;

    And amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Robert S. Kerr Airport, Poteau, OK, by removing the Rich Mountain VORTAC and associated extension from the airspace legal description as it is no longer required; removes the Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center Heliport and associated airspace contained within the Poteau, OK, airspace legal description as the instrument procedures at the heliport have been cancelled and the airspace is no longer required; and removes the city associated with Robert S. Kerr Airport in the header of the airspace legal description to comply with changes to FAA Order 7400.2M, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters.

    These actions are the result of airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the McAlester VOR, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at these airports.

    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 15.

    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) 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.

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    Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    • Airspace
    • Incorporation by reference
    • Navigation (air)
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    Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

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    PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

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    1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

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    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.

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    [Amended]
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    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

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    Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

    * * * * *

    ASW OK E2 McAlester, OK [Amended]

    McAlester Regional Airport, OK

    (Lat. 34°52′57″ N, long. 95°47′01″ W)

    Within a 4-mile radius of McAlester Regional Airport, and within 1 mile each side of the 020° degree bearing from the airport extending from the 4-mile radius to 4.1 miles north of the airport.

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

    * * * * *

    ASW OK E5 Henryetta, OK [Amended]

    Henryetta Municipal Airport, OK

    (Lat. 35°24′25″ N, long. 96°00′57″ W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.3-mile radius of Henryetta Municipal Airport.

    * * * * *

    ASW OK E5 McAlester, OK [Amended]

    McAlester Regional Airport, OK

    (Lat. 34°52′57″ N, long. 95°47′01″ W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.5-mile radius of McAlester Regional Airport, and within 2 miles each side of the 020° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 10.4 miles north of the airport, and within 2 miles each side of the 200° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 10.5 miles south of the airport.

    * * * * *

    ASW OK E5 Poteau, OK [Amending]

    Robert S. Kerr Airport, OK

    (Lat. 35°01′18″ N, long. 94°37′17″ W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.4-mile radius of Robert S. Kerr Airport.

    Start Signature

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 27, 2020.

    Steven Phillips,

    Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.

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    [FR Doc. 2020-09486 Filed 5-4-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
7/16/2020
Published:
05/05/2020
Department:
Federal Aviation Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
2020-09486
Dates:
Effective 0901 UTC, July 16, 2020. 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.
Pages:
26605-26606 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FAA-2019-1044, Airspace Docket No. 19-ASW-19
RINs:
2120-AA66: Airspace Actions
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2120-AA66/airspace-actions
Topics:
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air)
PDF File:
2020-09486.pdf
CFR: (1)
14 CFR 71.1