Amendment of Class E Airspace; Alma, GA, 52332-52333 [2022-18286]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 164 (Thursday, August 25, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52332-52333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18286]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0568; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASO-12]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Alma, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E surface airspace and Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Bacon 
County Airport, Alma, GA, due to the decommissioning of the Alma Very 
High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 
and cancellation of associated approaches, as well as updating the 
airport's geographic coordinates. Controlled airspace is necessary for 
the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations 
in the area.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, November 3, 2022. 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: FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at 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.

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:

[[Page 52333]]

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 amends Class E airspace for Bacon County Airport, Alma, GA, to 
support IFR operations in the area.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (87 FR 33083, June 1, 2022) for Docket No. FAA-2022-0568 to 
amend Class E surface airspace and Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface at Bacon County Airport, Alma, GA.
    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 Paragraphs 6002 and 
6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, 
and effective September 15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in 
14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in this document 
will be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 
15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F lists Class 
A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic routes, and reporting 
points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by amending Class E surface 
airspace and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Bacon County Airport, Alma, GA, due to the decommissioning 
of the Alma VORTAC and cancellation of associated extensions. This 
action also updates the airport's geographic coordinates to coincide 
with the FAA's database, and removes the city name from airspace header 
per order FAA 7400.2. In addition, this action replaces the outdated 
term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the 
airspace description.
    Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 6002 and 
6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, 
and effective September 15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in 
14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in this document 
will be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 
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. 
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 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 7400.11F, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and 
effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO GA E2 Alma, GA [Amended]

Bacon County Airport, GA
    (Lat. 31[deg]32'10'' N, long. 82[deg]30'24'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4-mile 
radius of Bacon County Airport. This Class E airspace area is 
effective during the specific days and times established in advance 
by a Notice to Air Missions. The effective days and times will 
thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

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

* * * * *

ASO GA E5 Alma, GA [Amended]

Bacon County Airport, GA
    (Lat. 31[deg]32'10'' N, long. 82[deg]30'24'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of Bacon County Airport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on August 17, 2022.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2022-18286 Filed 8-24-22; 8:45 am]
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