[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45723-45725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16222]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0711; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANM-64]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Colorado Plains Regional 
Airport, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated 
as a surface area, modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface, and remove the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Colorado Plains Regional 
Airport, CO. Additionally, this action proposes several administrative 
amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal 
descriptions. These actions will ensure the safety and management of 
instrument flight rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 12, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. DOT, Docket 
Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: (800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-
9826. You must identify ``FAA Docket No. FAA-2022-0711; Airspace Docket 
No. 21-ANM-64,'' at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit 
comments through the internet at www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at 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 (U.S.C.). 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 Class E airspace at Colorado Plains 
Regional Airport, CO, 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

[[Page 45724]]

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-2022-0711; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANM-64.'' 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 www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at  
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, 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 modifying 
the Class E airspace designated as a surface area, modifying the Class 
E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and 
removing the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above 
the surface at Colorado Plains Regional Airport, CO.
    The Class E airspace designated as a surface area should be 
expanded to more appropriately contain circling maneuvers.
    The Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface should be expanded to the southeast to contain aircraft 
conducting procedure turns for the VOR RWY 29 approach, as terrain 
exists within 1,500 feet of the minimum procedure turn altitude.
    The Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the 
surface should be removed, as this area is already contained within the 
Denver en route domestic airspace area, and duplication is not 
necessary.
    Finally, this action proposes several administrative modifications 
to airport's legal descriptions. The airport name in the text header is 
incorrect in the existing Class E2 and E5 legal descriptions. They 
should read: ``Colorado Plains Regional Airport, CO.'' The geographic 
coordinates for the airport should be updated to match the FAA's 
database. The navigational aid (NAVAID) used in the existing Class E2 
legal description should be removed. The NAVAID has been reclassified, 
and is not needed to describe the airspace. Its removal will simplify 
the airspace description.
    Class E2 and E5 airspace designations are published in paragraphs 
6002 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in 
this document will be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11, 
which is published yearly and becomes 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM CO E2 Akron, CO [Amended]

Colorado Plains Regional Airport, CO

    (Lat. 40[deg]10'32'' N, long. 103[deg]13'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.6-
mile radius of the airport.

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

* * * * *

ANM CO E5 Akron, CO [Amended]

Colorado Plains Regional Airport, CO
    (Lat. 40[deg]10'32'' N, long. 103[deg]13'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 6.6 miles of the Colorado Plains Regional Airport, and that 
airspace between 4 miles southwest and 8 miles northeast of the 
123[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 6.6-mile 
radius to 18.3 miles southeast of the airport.


[[Page 45725]]


    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on July 19, 2022.
B.G. Chew,
Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-16222 Filed 7-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


