[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 9, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35231-35233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12319]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0384; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-15]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Bethel, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class D and Class E surface 
area at Bethel Airport, Bethel AK, by redefining the Hangar Lake 
exclusion area and eliminating the use of the VORTAC in the 
descriptions. This action also proposes to remove Class E airspace as 
an extension to the Class D and Class E surface area and modify the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at 
the Airport. After a biennial review of the airspace, the FAA found it 
necessary to amend the existing airspace for the safety and management 
of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This 
action would also update the geographical coordinates and make a minor 
editorial change replacing the outdated term Airport/Facility Directory 
with the term Chart Supplement.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 24, 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-2020-0384; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-15, 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 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: (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: Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2245.

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

[[Page 35232]]

amend Class D and Class E airspace at Bethel Airport, Bethel, AK, to 
support 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-2020-0384; 
Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-15''. 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 to modify the description of the Class D 
and Class E surface area, remove the Class E as an extension to the 
Class D and Class E and modify the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet AGL at Bethel Airport, Bethel AK.
    The Class D and Class E surface area would be modified so that the 
Hangar Lake exclusion area would be described as that area within .7 
miles of the Hangar Lake ARP and eliminate the use of the VORTAC in the 
definition. This would ensure that a change in the status of the nav-
aid, in the future, would have no effect on the description and not 
require additional rulemaking.
    The FAA proposes eliminating the Class E airspace extensions to the 
Class D and Class E surface area, as these are no longer required for 
approaches.
    In addition, the FAA proposes to modify the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to within 6.6 miles of 
the Airport versus 16.8 miles and removing the procedure turn 
maneuvering area from the Bethel Airport to 22.8 miles north, as it is 
no longer required for the approaches. The use of the term Airport 
Facility/Directory would be replaced with Chart Supplement and the 
geographical coordinates updated to match the FAA database.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000, 
6002, 6004, 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 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AAL AK D Bethel, AK [Amended]

Bethel Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]46'43'' N, long. 161[deg]50'14'' W)

Hangar Lake

    (Lat. 60[deg]48'17'' N, long. 161[deg]43'15'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,600 feet MSL

[[Page 35233]]

within a 4.1-mile radius of the Bethel Airport, AK, excluding that 
portion below 1,100 feet MSL within .7-mile radius of Hangar Lake 
SPB. 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 Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Bethel, AK [Amended]

Bethel Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]46'43'' N, long. 161[deg]50'14'' W)
Hangar Lake
    (Lat. 60[deg]48'17'' N, long. 161[deg]43'15'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-
mile radius of the Bethel Airport, AK, excluding that portion below 
1,100 feet MSL within .7-mile radius of Hangar Lake SPB. 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 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E4 Bethel, AK [Removed]

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Bethel, AK [Amended]

Bethel Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]46'43' N, long. 161[deg]50'14'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of the Bethel Airport, AK, and that 
airspace 8 miles east and 4 miles west of the 211[deg] radial from 
the airport extending from the 6.6-mile radius to 22 miles south of 
the Airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on June 1, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-12319 Filed 6-8-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


