[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68381-68383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26848]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0341; Airspace Docket No. 18-ANM-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Gunnison, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace designated 
as a surface area, at Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, 
Gunnison, CO. The proposal would increase the circular radius of the 
Class E surface area and add an extension to the west of the airport. 
Also, this action proposes to amend the Class E airspace by adding an 
airspace area designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E 
surface area, to the southwest of the airport. Additionally, this 
action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface by significantly reducing the area around the 
airport, except to the west and southwest of the airport. Furthermore, 
this action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 1,200 feet above the surface by removing this area. This area is 
wholly contained within the Denver Class E6 en route airspace area and 
duplication is not necessary. Lastly, this action proposes several 
administrative changes to the airspace legal descriptions for the 
airport. These changes are necessary to accommodate airspace redesign 
for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) 
operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
1-800-647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0341; Airspace Docket No. 18-ANM-4, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    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.

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 (206) 231-3695.

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 Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional 
Airport, Gunnison, CO, to ensure safety and management of Instrument 
Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking 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 and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Persons wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2019-0341; 
Airspace Docket No. 18-ANM-4''. 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 through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://www.faa.gov/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 the 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 during normal 
business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 
98198.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend 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

[[Page 68382]]

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 Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) Part 71 by amending Class E airspace at the 
Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison, CO. The action 
proposes to amend the Class E airspace designated as a surface area by 
increasing the circular radius and adding an extension to the west of 
the airport. The airspace area would be defined as follows: That 
airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.8-mile radius of 
the airport and within 1 mile each side of the 256[deg] bearing, 
extending from the 4.8-mile radius to 5.7 miles west of the Gunnison-
Crested Butte Regional Airport.
    Also, this action proposes to amend the Class E airspace by adding 
a Class E airspace area designated an extension to Class D and Class E2 
surface areas. This airspace area would be defined as follows: That 
airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.4 miles each side 
of the 225[deg] bearing, extending from the 4.8-mile radius to 14.1 
miles southwest of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.
    Additionally, this action proposes a significant modification to 
the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. 
The action would remove most of the area extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface, from the northwest of the airport clockwise to the 
south of the airport. A small area would remain east of the airport and 
two larger areas would remain to the southwest and west of the airport. 
This airspace area would be defined as follows: That airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface, extending from the 4.8-mile 
radius to a 7-mile radius along the 052[deg] bearing clockwise to the 
107[deg] bearing, and within 2.5 miles each side of the 254[deg] 
bearing, extending from the 4.8-mile radius to 9.6 miles west of the 
airport, and within 8.1 miles north and 3.9 miles south of the 225[deg] 
bearing, extending from 7.1 miles to 23.1 miles southwest of the 
Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.
    Furthermore, this action proposes to remove the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This airspace area 
is wholly contained within the Denver Class E6 en route airspace area 
and duplication is not necessary.
    Lastly, the action proposes administrative corrections to the 
airspace's legal descriptions. The geographic coordinates need to be 
updated to (lat. 38[deg]32'04'' N, long. 106[deg]55'54'' W) to match 
the FAA's aeronautical database. The Class E surface airspace should be 
full time; the following two sentences do not accurately represent the 
time of use for this airspace area and need to be removed: ``This Class 
E airspace area is effective during 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.''
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 6002, 
6004 and 6005 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. 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

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

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 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.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM CO E2 Gunnison, CO [Amended]

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]32'04'' N, long. 106[deg]55'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.8-
mile radius of the airport, and within 1 mile each side of the 
256[deg] bearing, extending from the 4.8-mile radius to 5.7 miles 
west of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.

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

* * * * *

ANM CO E4 Gunnison, CO [New]

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]32'04'' N, long. 106[deg]55'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.4 miles 
each side of the 225[deg] bearing, extending from the 4.8-mile 
radius to 14.1 miles southwest of the Gunnison-Crested Butte 
Regional Airport.

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

* * * * *

ANM CO E5 Gunnison, CO [Amended]

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]32'04'' N, long. 106[deg]55'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
extending from the 4.8-mile radius to a 7-mile radius along the 
052[deg] bearing clockwise to the 107[deg] bearing, and within 2.5 
each side of the 254[deg] bearing, extending from the 4.8-mile 
radius to 9.6 miles west of the airport, and within 8.1 miles north 
and 3.9 miles south of the 225[deg] bearing, extending from 7.1 
miles to 23.1 miles southwest of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional 
Airport.


[[Page 68383]]


    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on December 6, 2019.
Byron Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-26848 Filed 12-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


