Amendment of Class E Airspace for the Following Texas Towns; Levelland, TX; Vernon, TX; and Winters, TX, 78905-78906 [2016-27091]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 218 (Thursday, November 10, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78905-78906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27091]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-8828; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-13]


Amendment of Class E Airspace for the Following Texas Towns; 
Levelland, TX; Vernon, TX; and Winters, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Levelland Municipal Airport, Levelland, 
TX; Wilbarger County Airport, Vernon, TX; and Winters Municipal 
Airport, Winters, TX. Decommissioning of non-directional radio beacons 
(NDB), cancellation of NDB approaches, and implementation of area 
navigation (RNAV) procedures have made this action necessary for the 
safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at 
these airports. This action also updates the geographic coordinates for 
Levelland Municipal Airport and Wilbarger County Airport to coincide 
with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, March 2, 2017. 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 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11A, 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. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11A at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to 
https://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX, 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

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 modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Levelland Municipal Airport, Levelland, TX; Wilbarger 
County Airport, Vernon, TX; and Winters Municipal Airport, Winters, TX.

History

    On August 25, 2016, the FAA published in the Federal Register a

[[Page 78906]]

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), (81 FR 58417) Docket No. FAA-
2016-8828, to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Levelland Municipal Airport, Levelland, TX; 
Wilbarger County Airport, Vernon, TX; and Winters Municipal Airport, 
Winters, TX. Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
FAA. No comments were received.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016, 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.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11A 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 modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at the following airports:

Within a 6.6-mile radius (decreased from a 6.7-mile radius) of 
Levelland Municipal Airport, Levelland, TX, and updating the geographic 
coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical 
database;
Within a 6.6-mile radius (decreased from a 7-mile radius) of Wilbarger 
County Airport, Vernon, TX, and updating the geographic coordinates of 
the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;
And within a 6.6-mile radius (increased from a 6.3-mile radius) of 
Winters Municipal Airport, Winters, TX, with an extension to the north 
of the airport from the 6.6-mile radius to 9.3 miles, and with a new 
extension to the south of the airport from the 6.6-mile radius to 9.6 
miles.

    Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of 
NDBs, cancellation of NDB approaches, and implementation of RNAV 
procedures at the above airports for the safety and management of the 
standard instrument approach procedures for IFR operations at the 
airports.

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 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 5-6.5.a. 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(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 7400.11A, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and 
effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Levelland, TX [Amended]

Levelland Municipal, TX
    (Lat. 33[deg]33'09'' N., long. 102[deg]22'21'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Levelland Municipal Airport.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Vernon, TX [Amended]

Wilbarger County Airport, TX
    (Lat. 34[deg]13'32'' N., long. 99[deg]17'02'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Wilbarger County Airport.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Winters, TX [Amended]

Winters Municipal Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]56'50'' N., long. 99[deg]59'09'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Winters Municipal Airport, and 1 mile 
each side of the 352[deg] bearing from the airport extending from 
the 6.6-mile radius to 9.3 miles north of the airport, and within 2 
miles each side of the 180[deg] bearing from the airport from the 
6.6-mile radius to 9.6 miles south of the airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 2, 2016.
Walter Tweedy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-27091 Filed 11-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P