Modification of Class E Airspace; Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, NV, 72971-72972 [2023-23430]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72971-72972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23430]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 24, 2023 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 72971]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1006; Airspace Docket No. 22-AWP-65]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class E Airspace; Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, 
NV

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, 
NV. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to 
update the airport's Class E airspace legal description. These actions 
would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules 
(IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 8, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-1006 and 
Airspace Docket No. 22-AWP-65 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith T. Adams, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2428.

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 
the 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 Class E airspace to support IFR operations 
at Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, NV.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain 
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments 
are filed in writing.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light 
of the comments it receives.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
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 
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and 
hours of operations). 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.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E5 airspace areas are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA 
Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an

[[Page 72972]]

annual basis. This document proposes to amend the current version of 
that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective 
September 15, 2023. These updates would be published in the next update 
to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in 
the ADDRESSES section of this document.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The FAA published an NPRM in the Federal Register for FAA-2023-1006 
(88 FR 54252; August 10, 2023) to modify Class E airspace at the 
Minden-Tahoe Airport for the purpose of containing the Area Navigation 
(RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 16 and the RNAV 
(GPS) RWY 34 approaches. Subsequent to the publication of the NPRM, the 
FAA discovered substantive errors in the description of the proposed 
amendment. This SNPRM updates the FAA's proposal to correct those 
errors.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to modify the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at 
Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, NV. The Class E airspace's radius is 
excessive and should be reduced by 2.3 miles to be within a 4.2-mile 
radius of the airport to more appropriately contain IFR operations.
    An 8.9-mile extension should be added to the north to better 
contain departing IFR operations until they reach 1,200 feet above the 
surface. Additionally, a 7-mile extension should be added to the south 
to better contain arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet above the 
surface.
    Finally, the FAA proposes administrative modifications to the 
airport's associated legal description. The airport's geographic 
coordinates on line three of the text header should be updated to match 
the FAA's database.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this proposed 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 so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that 
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this proposed 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

    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

    In consideration of the foregoing, 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 JO 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

AWP NV E5 Minden, NV [Amended]

Minden-Tahoe Airport, NV
    (Lat. 39[deg]00'02'' N, long. 119[deg]45'04'' W)
    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 4.2-mile radius of the airport, that airspace 2 miles each 
side of the airport's 001[deg] bearing extending from the 4.2-mile 
radius to 8.9 miles north of the airport, and that airspace 1.1 
miles each side of the airport's 180[deg] bearing extending from the 
4.2-mile radius to 7 miles south of the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on October 18, 2023.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2023-23430 Filed 10-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P