2021-12184. Amendment and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Michigan, MI

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of Michigan and removes overlapping and redundant enroute domestic airspace areas within these boundaries. This action corrects, simplifies, and closes gaps in the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of Michigan; provides transitional airspace to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations to and from the terminal and enroute environments within the state; and improves air traffic control services over the state.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, August 12, 2021. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES:

FAA Order 7400.11E, 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: [phone]. The Order is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of FAA Order 7400.11E at NARA, email [e-mail] or go to https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone [phone].

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 airspace area extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of Michigan and removes the enroute domestic airspace at Upper Peninsula, MI; Iron Mountain, MI; and Newberry, MI, which become redundant, to correct, simplify, and close gaps in the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of Michigan; provide transitional airspace to support IFR operations to and from the terminal and enroute environments within the state; and improve air traffic services over the state.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (86 FR 20469; April 20, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2021-0325 to amend the Class E airspace area extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of Michigan and remove overlapping and redundant enroute domestic airspace areas within these boundaries. 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 6005 and 6006, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11E, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, 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 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

This amendment to 14 CFR part 71:

Amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within the boundary of the State of Michigan by removing the limitation of “south of parallel 45°45′ ” from the airspace legal description; and

Removes the enroute domestic airspace area over the Upper Peninsula, MI; Iron Mountain, MI; and Newberry, MI, as they are redundant with the amendment of the Class E airspace area extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within the boundary of the State of Michigan.

This action corrects, simplifies, and closes gaps in the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of Michigan; provides transitional airspace to support IFR operations to and from the terminal and enroute environments within the state; and improves air traffic control services over the State of Michigan.

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.

Lists 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, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

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

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.

§ 71.1

[Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

AGL MI E5 Michigan, MI [Amended]

That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within the boundary of the State of Michigan.

Paragraph 6006 En Route Domestic Airspace Areas.

* * * * *

AGL MI E6 Upper Peninsula, MI [Removed]

AGL MI E6 Iron Mountain, MI [Removed]

AGL MI E6 Newberry, MI [Removed]

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 7, 2021.

Martin A. Skinner,

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