
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 136 (Thursday, July 16, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42068-42069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17272]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0967; Airspace Docket No. 14-ASO-19]


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Ponce, PR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Ponce, PR, 
as the PONCE VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation 
Aid, (VORTAC) has been decommissioned, requiring airspace redesign at 
Mercedita Airport. This action is necessary for the safety and 
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this rule to: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001; Telephone: 1-
800-647-5527; Fax: 202-493-2251. You must identify the Docket Number 
FAA-2014-0967; Airspace Docket No. 14-ASO-19, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit and review received comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5527), is on 
the ground floor of the building at the above address.
    FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. The Order is also available for inspection 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this proposed incorporation by 
reference material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15. For further 
information, you can contact the Airspace Policy and Regulations Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC, 20591; telephone: 202-267-8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. 
Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-6364.

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 would amend Class E airspace at Mercedita Airport, Ponce, PR.

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. 
Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and 
suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing reasoned 
regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are specifically invited 
on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and 
energy-related aspects of the proposal.
    Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2014-0967; Airspace Docket No. 14-ASO-19) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on 
this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped 
postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket 
No. FAA-2014-0967; Airspace Docket No. 14-ASO-19.'' The postcard will 
be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of the 
comments received. A report summarizing each substantive public contact 
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from and 
comments submitted through http://www.regulations.gov. Recently 
published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's 
Web page at http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
Holidays. An informal docket may also be examined between 8:00 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays at the office 
of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 
350, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
to request a copy of Advisory circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and effective 
September 15, 2014. FAA Order 7400.9Y is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.9Y lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal

[[Page 42069]]

Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend Class E surface area airspace at 
Mercedita Airport, Ponce, PR. Airspace reconfiguration to within a 4.1-
mile radius of the airport is necessary due to the decommissioning of 
the Ponce VORTAC and cancellation of the VOR approach, and for 
continued safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.
    Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas are published in 
Paragraph 6002 of FAA Order 7400.9Y, dated August 6, 2014, and 
effective September 15, 2014, 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.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves 
an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. 
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 proposed rule, 
when promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    This proposal would be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 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

0
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.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9Y, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, 
effective September 15, 2014, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas
* * * * *

ASO PR E2 Ponce, PR [Amended]

Mercedita Airport, PR
    (Lat. 18[deg]00'30'' N., long. 66[deg]33'4'' W.)

    Within a 4.1-mile radius of Mercedita Airport. This Class E 
airspace 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 Airport/
Facility Directory.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on July 6, 2015.
Gerald E. Lynch,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2015-17272 Filed 7-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


