2018-08037. Revocation of Class E Airspace; Seven Springs, PA, and Amendment of Class E Airspace; Somerset, PA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action removes Class E airspace at Seven Springs, PA, as Seven Springs Borough Airport has been abandoned, and controlled airspace is no longer required. This action also removes reference to the Seven Springs, PA, Class E airspace area from the Somerset County Airport, Somerset, PA, description, and updates the geographic coordinates of Somerset County Airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action enhances the safety and management of controlled airspace within the national airspace system.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, July 19, 2018. 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 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://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 7400.11B at NARA, call [phone], or go to https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Fornito, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; 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 supports the removal of Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Seven Springs Borough Airport, Seven Springs, PA, as the airport has closed, and amends the airspace at Somerset County Airport, Somerset, PA, in support of instrument flight rules operations.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (83 FR 5965, February 12, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-2017-0783 to remove Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface at Seven Springs Borough Airport, Seven Springs, PA, and amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface at Somerset County Airport, Somerset, PA.

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, of FAA Order 7400.11B dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 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 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by removing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface at Seven Springs Borough Airport, Seven Springs, PA, as the airport has been abandoned. Therefore, the airspace is no longer necessary. Also, this action removes the words “excluding that portion that coincides with the Seven Springs, PA, Class E airspace area” from the regulatory text In Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Somerset County Airport, Somerset, PA, and updates the geographic coordinates of Somerset County Airport, to be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical database.

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. Therefore, 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) 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 5-6.5a. 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.

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 Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

* * * * *

AEA PA E5 Seven Springs, PA [Removed]

AEA PA E5 Somerset, PA [Amended]

Somerset County Airport, PA

(Lat. 40°02′20″ N, long. 79°00′54″ W)

Stoystown NDB

(Lat. 40°05′09″ N, long. 78°55′00″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.4-mile radius of Somerset County Airport, and within 3.1 miles each side of the 058° bearing from the Stoystown NDB extending from the 6.4-mile radius to 9.6 miles northeast of the NDB, and 4 miles each side of the 236° bearing from the Somerset County Airport extending from the 6.4-mile radius to 9.5 miles southwest of the airport.

Issued in College Park, Georgia, on April 10, 2018.

Ryan W. Almasy,

Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic Operations.