Proposed Amendment and Removal of Class E Airspace; South Lake Tahoe, CA, 31998-31999 [2021-12601]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31998-31999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12601]



[[Page 31998]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0426; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-14]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment and Removal of Class E Airspace; South Lake 
Tahoe, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 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, at Lake Tahoe Airport, South Lake Tahoe, 
CA. This action also proposes to remove the Class E airspace designated 
as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area and modify the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. 
Also, this action proposes two administrative updates to the Class E2's 
text header. This action would ensure the safety and management of 
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 2, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
1-800-647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0426; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-14, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11E, 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 7400.11E at NARA, email [email protected] 
or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Van Der Wal, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S. 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3695.

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 would modify the Class E airspace at Lake Tahoe Airport, South 
Lake Tahoe, CA, 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 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-2021-0426; 
Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-14''. 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://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 7400.11E, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective 
September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E 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, at Lake Tahoe 
Airport, South Lake Tahoe, CA.
    To properly contain IFR aircraft in the terminal environment, the 
radius of this airspace area should be increased from 4.3 miles to 5 
miles.
    This action also proposes to remove the Class E airspace designated 
as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area. This airspace is 
no longer needed to contain IFR aircraft descending below 1,000 feet 
above the surface.
    This action also proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface. This airspace is designed to 
contain IFR departure to 1,200 feet above the surface and IFR arrivals 
descending below 1,500 feet above the surface. To properly contain 
aircraft conducting the LDA RWY 18 approach, the extension north of the 
airport should be increased from 9.8 miles to 17.5 miles.
    This action also proposes two administrative updates to the Class 
E2's text header. On the second line of the text header, the airport 
name should be updated to ``Lake Tahoe Airport'', to match the FAA 
database. On the third

[[Page 31999]]

line of the text header, the airport's geographic coordinates should be 
updated to ``lat. 38[deg]53'38'' N, long. 119[deg]59'44'' W'', to match 
the FAA database.
    Class E2, E4, and E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraphs 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11E, 
dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, 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.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and 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 7400.11E, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and 
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E2 South Lake Tahoe, CA [Amended]

Lake Tahoe Airport, CA
    (Lat. 38[deg]53'38'' N, long. 119[deg]59'43'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5-mile 
radius of the airport.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4 South Lake Tahoe, CA [Removed]

South Lake Tahoe Airport, CA
    (Lat. 38[deg]53'38'' N, long. 119[deg]59'43'' W)

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward from 700 
feet or more above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 South Lake Tahoe, CA [Amended]

Lake Tahoe Airport, CA
    (Lat. 38[deg]53'38'' N, long. 119[deg]59'43'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6-mile radius of Lake Tahoe Airport and within 1.9 miles 
each side of the 008[deg] bearing from the airport extending from 
the 6-mile radius to 17.5 miles north of the airport.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on June 10, 2021.
B.G. Chew,
Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2021-12601 Filed 6-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P