[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 71 (Monday, April 13, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20451-20453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07698]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0282; Airspace Docket No. 19-ANM-31]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class D and E Airspace; Mountain Home, ID

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the Class D airspace at the 
Mountain Home Air Force Base Airport by removing the extensions to the 
northwest and southeast of the airport. This action also proposes to 
amend the Class E surface area to match the new dimensions of the Class 
D. Additionally, this action proposes to amend the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface by properly sizing the 
area to contain arriving IFR aircraft

[[Page 20452]]

descending below 1,500 feet above the surface and departing IFR 
aircraft until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface. This action also 
proposes to properly size the Class E airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface to contain IFR aircraft transitioning to/
from the en route environment. Further, this action proposes to remove 
Mountain Home Municipal Airport from the Class E airspace legal 
description for the area extending upward from 700 feet or more above 
the surface. A notice of proposed rulemaking and Final Rule, FAA-2019-
0972, have been published to establish Class E airspace, extending 
upward from 700 feet or more above the surface, for Mountain Home 
Municipal Airport. Lastly, this action proposes two administrative 
corrections to the airspace legal descriptions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 28, 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-2020-0282; Airspace Docket No. 19-ANM-31, 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 the Class D and Class E airspace at Mountain Home Air 
Force Base, Mountain Home, ID to support 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-2020-0282; 
Airspace Docket No. 19-ANM-31''. 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 
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 the Class D airspace at the 
Mountain Home Air Force Base Airport by removing the extensions to the 
northwest and southeast of the airport. Based on the instrument 
approach procedures published for the airport, the extensions are no 
longer required to contain arriving IFR aircraft descending below 1,000 
feet above the surface. The Class D area would be described as follows: 
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 5,500 
feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of Mountain Home AFB. 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.
    This action also proposes to amend the Class E surface area to 
match the new dimensions of the Class D. The amended Class E surface 
area would be described as follows: That airspace extending upward from 
the surface within a 5-mile radius of Mountain Home AFB. 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.
    Additionally, this action proposes to amend the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface by properly sizing the 
area to contain arriving IFR aircraft descending below

[[Page 20453]]

1,500 feet above the surface and departing IFR aircraft until reaching 
1,200 feet above the surface. This amended area would be described as 
follows: That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.2-mile radius of Mountain Home AFB.
    This action also proposes to properly size the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface to contain IFR 
aircraft transitioning to/from the en route environment. This amended 
area would be described as follows: That airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface within a 30-mile radius of Mountain Home 
AFB.
    Further, this action proposes to remove Mountain Home Municipal 
Airport from the Class E airspace description, extending upward from 
700 feet or more above the surface. A notice of proposed rulemaking, 
FAA-2019-0972, has been published to establish Class E airspace, 
extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface, for Mountain 
Home Municipal Airport.
    Lastly, this action proposes two administrative corrections to the 
airspace legal descriptions. The term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' in 
the Class D description is outdated and should read ``Chart 
Supplement''. The Class E surface area is part-time and should include 
the following language in the legal description: 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.
    Class D, E2, and E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraphs 5000, 6002, 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 
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 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ANM ID D Mountain Home, ID [Amended]

Mountain Home AFB, ID
    (Lat. 43[deg]02'37'' N, long. 115[deg]52'21'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
5,500 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of Mountain Home AFB. 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM ID E2 Mountain Home, ID [Amended]

Mountain Home AFB, ID
    (Lat. 43[deg]02'37'' N, long. 115[deg]52'21'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5-mile 
radius of Mountain Home AFB. 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.

* * * * *

ANM ID E5 Mountain Home, ID [Amended]

Mountain Home AFB, ID
    (Lat. 43[deg]02'37'' N, long. 115[deg]52'21'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.2-mile radius of Mountain Home AFB; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 30-mile 
radius of Mountain Home AFB.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on April 7, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-07698 Filed 4-10-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


