Amendment of Class E Airspace; Medford, OR, 33796-33797 [2017-15290]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33796-33797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15290]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0195; Airspace Docket No. 16-ANM-14]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Medford, OR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace designated as an 
extension to a Class D or E surface area, Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface, and removes Class E airspace 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Rogue Valley International-
Medford Airport, Medford, OR. This action is necessary due to the 
decommissioning of the PUMIE locator outer marker and removal of the 
Rogue Valley VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 
from the airspace description as the FAA transitions from ground-based 
navigation aids to satellite-based navigation. Also, this action 
updates the airport's geographic coordinates for the Class D and E 
airspace areas to reflect the FAA's current aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, October 12, 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 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 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Clark, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4511.

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 at Rogue Valley International-Medford 
Airport, Medford, OR, in support of the transition from ground-based 
navigation aids to satellite-based navigation.

History

    On April 13, 2017, the FAA published in the Federal Register (82 FR 
17776) Docket FAA-2017-0195, a notice of proposed rulemaking to modify 
Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D or E surface 
area, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface, remove Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above 
the surface at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, Medford, OR, 
and update the geographic coordinates of the airport. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments 
were received.
    Also, an editorial change is made to the Class D and Class E 
surface area airspace legal descriptions replacing Airport/Facility 
Directory with the term Chart Supplement.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraph 
5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11A, dated 
August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 2016, which is incorporated 
by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class D and 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,

[[Page 33797]]

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

    The FAA is amending Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by modifying Class E airspace designated as an extension to a 
Class D or E surface area, modifying Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface, removing Class E airspace upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface at Rogue Valley International-Medford 
Airport, Medford, OR, and updating the geographic coordinates of the 
airport. This action is necessary due to the proposed decommissioning 
of the PUMIE locator outer marker and for the safety and management of 
aircraft within the national airspace system as the FAA transitions 
from ground-based navigation aids to satellite-based navigation.
    Class E airspace designated as an extension to Class D or E surface 
area northeast of the airport is reduced to a 4-mile wide segment (from 
5.5 miles wide) extending to 11 miles northwest (from 17.5 miles 
northwest) of the airport, and the segment to the southeast is reduced 
to a 5-mile wide segment (from 8 miles), extending to 9 miles (from 
19.4 miles) southeast of the airport. This airspace redesign is due to 
the removal of the Rogue Valley VORTAC navigation aid.
    Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
is reduced northeast, southeast, and southwest of the airport to only 
that area necessary to contain IFR departures within 1,500 feet of the 
surface and IFR departures until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface. 
Additionally, the Class E airspace area extending upward from 1,200 
feet above the surface designated for Rogue Valley International-
Medford Airport is removed, as this airspace duplicates the Rogue 
Valley Class E en route airspace area.
    Also, the geographic coordinates of the airport are updated to 
match the FAA's current aeronautical database. Additionally, this 
action replaces the outdated term Airport/Facility Directory with the 
term Chart Supplement in the associated Class D and E airspace legal 
descriptions.

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, will 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 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 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ANM OR D Medford, OR [Modified]

Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, OR
    (Lat. 42[deg]22'27'' N., long. 122[deg]52'25'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,800 feet MSL within a 4.1-mile radius of Rogue Valley 
International-Medford Airport. 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 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ANM OR E2 Medford, OR [Modified]

Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, OR
    (Lat. 42[deg]22'27'' N., long. 122[deg]52'25'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-
mile radius of Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport. This 
Class E 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.

* * * * *

ANM OR E4 Medford, OR [Modified]

Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, OR
    (Lat. 42[deg]22'27'' N., long. 122[deg]52'25'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 2.5 miles 
each side of the 159[deg] bearing from the Rogue Valley 
International-Medford Airport, extending from the 4.1-mile radius of 
the airport to 9 miles southeast of the airport, and within 2 miles 
each side of the 339[deg] bearing from the airport extending from 
the 4.1-mile radius of the airport to 11 miles northwest of the 
airport.

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

* * * * *

ANM OR E5 Medford, OR [Modified]

Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, OR
    (Lat. 42[deg]22'27'' N., long. 122[deg]52'25'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 9-mile radius of Rogue Valley International-Medford 
Airport, and within 4 miles each side of the 159[deg] bearing from 
the airport extending from the 9-mile radius to 18.5 miles southeast 
of the airport, and within 9 miles west and 5.5 miles east of the 
352[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 9-mile radius 
of the airport to 26 miles northwest of the airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on July 11, 2017.
Sam S.L. Shrimpton,
Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2017-15290 Filed 7-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P