Establishment of Class E Airspace; Seattle, WA, 13207-13208 [2015-05716]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13207-13208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05716]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0466; Airspace Docket No. 14-ANM-6]


Establishment of Class E Airspace; Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace at Seattle, WA, to 
facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under 
control of Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). This 
action enhances the safety and management of IFR operations within the 
National Airspace System (NAS).

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, April 30, 2015. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under title 1, 
Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual revision of 
FAA Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed on line at https://www.faa.gov/airtraffic/publications/. The Order is also available for 
inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15. For further 
information, you can contact the Airspace Policy and ATC Regulations 
Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 29591; telephone: 202-267-8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Haga, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4563.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

History

    On November 19, 2014 the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish Class E en route 
domestic airspace at Seattle, WA (79 FR 68807). Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two comments were received on the 
proposal, one from the National Business Aviation Association 
supporting the proposal and identifying a latitude typographical error, 
and one by Tim Gravelle, also identifying the same latitude 
typographical error. Subsequent to publication, the FAA found an 
inadvertent omission of exclusionary language regarding the 12-mile 
offshore territorial limit. These errors have been corrected in this 
document.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6006, of 
FAA Order 7400.9Y, dated August 6, 2014, and effective September 15, 
2014, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E 
airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and effective September 15, 
2014. FAA Order 7400.9Y is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this final rule. FAA Order 7400.9Y lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    This amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 establishes Class E en route domestic airspace extending upward 
from 1,200 feet above the surface at Seattle, WA. By this action, 
aircraft are contained while in IFR conditions under control of Seattle 
ARTCC by vectoring aircraft from en route airspace to terminal areas. 
This action enhances the safety and management of controlled airspace 
within the NAS.
    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

[[Page 13208]]

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 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.
    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 controlled airspace at Seattle, WA.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 311a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of 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 Part 71 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 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 7400.9Y, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and 
effective September 15, 2014, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6006 En route domestic airspace areas.

* * * * *

ANM WA E6 Seattle, WA [New]

Seattle, WA

    That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
within an area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 49[deg]00'00'' 
N., long. 120[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 49[deg]00'00'' N., long. 
123[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 48[deg]30'00'' N., long. 123[deg]00'00'' 
W.; to lat. 48[deg]17'08'' N., long. 123[deg]15'16'' W.; to lat. 
48[deg]13'28'' N., long. 123[deg]32'45'' W.; to lat. 48[deg]17'50'' 
N., long. 124[deg]00'40'' W.; to lat. 48[deg]26'30'' N., long. 
124[deg]32'40'' W.; to lat. 48[deg]30'00'' N., long. 124[deg]45'00'' 
W.; to lat. 48[deg]30'00'' N., long. 125[deg]00'00'' W.; to lat. 
46[deg]15'00'' N., long. 124[deg]30'00'' W.; to lat. 46[deg]23'19'' 
N., long. 121[deg]07'50'' W.; thence to the point of beginning, 
excluding that airspace beyond 12-miles of the shoreline.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on February 27, 2015.
Johanna Forkner,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2015-05716 Filed 3-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P