2020-16835. Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Las Vegas, NV

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action modifies Class E airspace by adding an area, designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area. This action also implements several administrative amendments to the airspace legal descriptions.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, November 5, 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://wwWfaa.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 7400.11D at NARA, email [e-mail] or go to https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Matthew Van Der Wal, Federal Aviation Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 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 Class D and Class E airspace at North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, NV, to ensure the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (85 FR 27180; May 7, 2020) for Docket No. FAA-2020-0353 to amend Class D and Class E airspace at North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, NV. 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 D, E4, and E5 airspace designations are published in paragraphs 5000, 6004, 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 designation 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 Class 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 modifies Class E airspace at North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, NV. This action adds an area, designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area, to the northwest of the airport. The area extends from the airport's Class D airspace. This area is described as follows: That airspace extending upward from the surface within 2 miles each side of the 314° bearing from the airport, extending from the 4.3-mile radius to 13.2 miles northwest of North Las Vegas Airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

This action implements several administrative amendments to the airspace legal descriptions for the Class D and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. The first line of the airspace text headers is updated to “AWP NV D Las Vegas, NV” and “AWP NV E5 Las Vegas, NV”, respectively. The second line of the airspace text headers for both areas is updated to “North Las Vegas Airport, NV”. The airport's geographic coordinates are updated to lat. 36°12′39″ N, long. 115°11′40″ W. The term “Airport/Facility Directory” in the Class D airspace description is updated to “Chart Supplement”.

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 will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated, would 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 5-6.5a. 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.

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

1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AWP NV D Las Vegas, NV [Amended]

North Las Vegas Airport, NV

(Lat. 36°12′39″ N, long. 115°11′40″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface up to but not including 4,500 feet MSL within a 4.3-mile radius of the North Las Vegas Airport. This Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AWP NV E4 Las Vegas, NV [New]

North Las Vegas Airport, NV

(Lat. 36°12′39″ N, long. 115°11′40″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within 2 miles each side of the 314° bearing from the airport, extending from the 4.3-mile radius to 13.2 miles northwest of North Las Vegas Airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

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

* * * * *

AWP NV E5 Las Vegas, NV [Amended]

North Las Vegas Airport, NV

(Lat. 36°12′39″ N, long. 115°11′40″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.9-mile radius of North Las Vegas Airport.

Issued in Seattle, Washington, on July 29, 2020.

B.G. Chew,

Acting Group Manager, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group.