[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34597-34598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12101]



[[Page 34597]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0242; Airspace Docket No. 20-AWP-8]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Removal of Class E Airspace and Modification of Class D 
and Class E Airspace; Point Mugu NAS (Naval Base Ventura Co) Airport, 
CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove the Class E airspace, 
designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area, at 
Point Mugu NAS (Naval Base Ventura Co) Airport, Oxnard, CA. This action 
also proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface. Further, this action proposes to remove the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface and 
the Class E airspace extending upward from 5,000 feet above the 
surface, both of these areas are contained within the Los Angeles Class 
E en route airspace and duplication is not necessary. Lastly, this 
action proposes several administrative updates to the Class D and Class 
E5 airspaces' legal descriptions. This action would ensure the safety 
and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the 
airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 22, 2022.

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-2021-0242; Airspace Docket No. 20-AWP-8, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11F, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3460.

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 modify the Class D and Class E airspace at Point Mugu NAS 
(Naval Base Ventura Co) Airport, Oxnard, CA, 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-2021-0242; 
Airspace Docket No. 20-AWP-8''. 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 JO 7400.11F, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective 
September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 
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 14 CFR part 71 by removing the 
Class E airspace, designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E 
surface area, at Point Mugu NAS (Naval Base Ventura Co) Airport, 
Oxnard, CA. This airspace area is southwest of the airport and is no 
longer required to contain IFR arrivals descending below 1,000 feet 
above the surface.
    Also, this action proposes to properly size the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. This airspace is 
designed to contain arriving IFR aircraft descending below 1,500 feet 
above the surface and departing IFR aircraft until they reach 1,200 
feet above the surface. The current area is larger than required and 
this airspace area should be reduced to a 6.8-mile radius of the 
airport.
    Further, this action proposes to remove the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface and the Class E 
airspace extending upward from 5,000 feet above the surface. The two 
airspace areas are

[[Page 34598]]

wholly contained within the Los Angeles en route airspace area and 
duplication is not necessary.
    Lastly, this action proposes administrative updates to the Class D 
and Class E5 legal descriptions. To match the FAA database, the city 
name in the first line of the Class D text header should be updated 
from ``Point Mugu NAWS'' to ``Oxnard''. To match the FAA database, the 
airport name in the second line of the Class D and Class E5 text 
headers should be updated to ``Point Mugu NAS (Naval Air Station 
Ventura Co) Airport, CA.'' To match the FAA database, the geographic 
coordinates in the third line of the Class D and Class E5 text headers 
should be updated to lat. 34[deg]07'09'' N, long. 119[deg]07'11'' W. As 
the Point Mugu NAS (Naval Air Station Ventura Co) Airport's Class D 
airspace abuts the Class D areas for Oxnard and Camarillo Airports, the 
geographic coordinates in Point Mugu NAS (Naval Air Station Ventura Co) 
Airport's Class D should be updated to more accurately define the 
common borders of the Class D areas, which would not represent a change 
to the current boundaries. Finally, the term ``Airport/Facility 
Directory'' in the last sentence of the Class D airspace description is 
outdated and should be changed to ``Chart Supplement.''
    Class D, Class E4, and Class E5 airspace designations are published 
in paragraphs 5000, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 
7400.11F, August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and 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 JO 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AWP CA D Oxnard, CA [Amended]

Point Mugu NAS (Naval Air Station Ventura Co) Airport, CA
    (Lat. 34[deg]07'09'' N, long. 119[deg]07'11'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,000 feet MSL within a 4.3-mile radius of the Point Mugu NAWS, 
excluding that portion north and west of a line beginning at lat. 
34[deg]09'18.02'' N, long. 119[deg]02'40.92'' W; to lat. 
34[deg]10'34.70'' N, long. 119[deg]04'1.71'' W; to lat. 
34[deg]10'22'' N, long. 119[deg]09'27'' W; to lat. 34[deg]07'44.53'' 
N, long. 119[deg]12'18.39'' W. 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 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4 Oxnard, CA [Removed]

Point Mugu NAS, CA
    (Lat. 34[deg]07'09'' N, long. 119[deg]07'11'' W)

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Oxnard, CA [Amended]

Point Mugu NAS (Naval Air Station Ventura Co) Airport, CA
    (Lat. 34[deg]07'09'' N, long. 119[deg]07'11'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8-mile radius of the Point Mugu NAS Airport.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on May 26, 2022.
B.G. Chew,
Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-12101 Filed 6-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


