Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Wallops Island, VA, 24366-24367 [2024-07243]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24366-24367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07243]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2204; Airspace Docket No. 23-AEA-20]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Wallops Island, VA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, 
and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
for Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA. This action eliminates 
the Snow Hill VORTAC from the airspace descriptions for this airport, 
as well as updating the airport name, geographic coordinates, and 
description headers.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, July 11, 2024. 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: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
    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: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone: (404) 305-6364.

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 amends Class D and Class E airspace for Wallops Island, VA. An 
airspace evaluation determined that this update is necessary to support 
IFR operations in the area.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2023-2204 in the Federal Register (88 FR 87382; December 18, 2023), 
proposing to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for 
Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

[[Page 24367]]

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D and E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 
5000, 6002, and 6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on 
an annual basis. This document amends the current version of that 
order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective 
September 15, 2023. FAA Order JO 7400.11H is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will 
be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending Class D airspace and 
Class E surface airspace by removing Snow Hill VORTAC from the 
descriptions as it is unnecessary in describing the airspace, as well 
as updating the airport's geographic coordinates to coincide with the 
FAA's database. In addition, this action updates the airport name to 
Wallops Flight Facility (formerly NASA Wallops Flight Facility). This 
action also replaces the terms Notice to Airmen with Notice to Air 
Missions and Airport/Facility Directory with Chart Supplement in the 
airspace descriptions. In addition, the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface is updated by replacing the city 
name under the header with Wallops Island (formerly Chincoteague) and 
removing the city name from the next line of the description, 
identifying the airport. Also, the geographic coordinates of this 
airspace are updated to coincide with the FAA's database. Finally, this 
action clarifies the Class D description by adding the words `and 
including' referring to the airspace ceiling. Controlled airspace is 
necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules 
(IFR) operations in the area.

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 the preparation of an environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

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

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA VA D Wallops Island, VA [Amended]

Wallops Flight Facility, VA
    (Lat 37[deg]56'25'' N, long 75[deg]27'59'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,500 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of Wallops Flight Facility 
and within 1.8 miles each side of the 001[deg] bearing of the 
airport, extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 4.7 miles north of 
the airport. This Class D airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air 
Missions. The effective date and time will thereafter be published 
continuously in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA VA E2 Wallops Island, VA [Amended]

Wallops Flight Facility, VA
    (Lat 37[deg]56'25'' N, long 75[deg]27'59'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.4-
mile radius of Wallops Flight Facility and within 1.8 miles each 
side of the 001[deg] bearing of the airport, extending from the 4.4-
mile radius to 4.7 miles north of the airport. This Class E airspace 
area is effective during the specific dates and times established in 
advance by a Notice to Air Missions. The effective date and time 
will thereafter be published continuously in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AEA VA E5 Wallops Island, VA [Amended]

Wallops Flight Facility, VA
    (Lat 37[deg]56'25'' N, long 75[deg]27'59'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.1-mile radius of the Wallops Flight Facility.
* * * * *

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on April 2, 2024.
Patrick Young,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2024-07243 Filed 4-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P