[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23568-23569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08089]



[[Page 23568]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0099; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANE-12]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Class E Airspace; Ellsworth, Augusta, and 
Waterville, ME

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface for Maine Coast Memorial Heliport, Ellsworth, 
Maine; Maine General Medical Center/Augusta Heliport, Augusta, Maine; 
and Maine General Medical Center-Waterville Heliport, Waterville, Maine 
as instrument approach procedures have been designed for each heliport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, June 15, 2023. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR 
part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. An electronic copy of 
this document may also be downloaded from the Office of the Federal 
Register's website at www.federalregister.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; Telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone: (404) 305-6364.

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 establishes airspace in Ellsworth, Augusta, and Waterville, ME, 
to support instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2023-0099 in the Federal Register (88 FR 11833, February 24, 2023) 
to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface for Maine Coast Memorial Heliport, Ellsworth, Maine; Maine 
General Medical Center/Augusta Heliport, Augusta, Maine; and Maine 
General Medical Center-Waterville Heliport, Waterville, Maine, as 
instrument approach procedures have been designed for each heliport. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This 
document amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 
7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022. FAA 
Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of the document. These amendments will be published in the next 
update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by establishing a 6-mile radius 
of Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
for Maine Coast Memorial Heliport, Ellsworth, Maine; Maine General 
Medical Center/Augusta Heliport, Augusta, Maine; and Maine General 
Medical Center-Waterville Heliport, Waterville, Maine as instrument 
approach procedures have been designed for each heliport. Controlled 
airspace is necessary for the safety and management of IFR operations 
in the area.

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. 
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 minimal. Since this is a routine matter that only 
affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that 
this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5a.
    This airspace action is not expected to cause any potentially 
significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances 
exist that warrant the preparation of an environmental assessment.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 Federal Aviation 
Administration Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is 
amended as follows:

[[Page 23569]]

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

* * * * *

ANE ME E5 Ellsworth, ME [Established]

Maine Coast Memorial Heliport, ME
    (Lat. 44[deg]32'48'' N, long. 68[deg]25'03'' W)
Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 44[deg]33'09'' N, long. 68[deg]25'17'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.0-mile radius of the point in space coordinates for Maine 
Coast Memorial Heliport.

ANE ME E5 Augusta, ME [Established]

Maine General Medical Center/Augusta Heliport, ME
    (Lat. 44[deg]21'43'' N, long. 69[deg]46'47'' W)
Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 44[deg]21'44'' N, long. 69[deg]47'35'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.0-mile radius of the point in space coordinates for Maine 
General Medical Center/Augusta Heliport.

ANE ME E5 Waterville, ME [Established]

Maine General Medical Center-Waterville Heliport, ME
    (Lat. 44[deg]33'58'' N, long. 69[deg]38'52'' W)
Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 44[deg]33'23'' N, long. 69[deg]38'30'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.0-mile radius of the point in space coordinates for Maine 
General Medical Center-Waterville Heliport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on April 12, 2023.
Lisa E. Burrows,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2023-08089 Filed 4-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


