[Federal Register: February 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 33)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 9059-9060]
[DOCID:fr19fe08-13]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0111; Airspace Docket No. 08-AAL-2]

Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; White Hills, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at White
Hills, AK. Two Special Instrument Approach Procedures (IAPs) are being
developed for the White Hills Airstrip at White Hills, AK.
Additionally, a Special textual Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) is
being developed. These Special procedures will be for use by the
company that has paid for their publication. Adoption of this proposal
would result in establishment of Class E airspace upward from 700 feet
(ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the White Hills Airstrip,
White Hills, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal to the Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. You must identify the docket number FAA-2008-0111/Airspace Docket
No. 08-AAL-2, at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit
comments on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. You may review

the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and
any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket
Office (telephone 1-800-647-5527) is on the plaza level of the
Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at the above address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business
hours at the office of the Manager, Safety, Alaska Flight Service
Operations, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box
14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Rolf, Federal Aviation
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587;
telephone number<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>; e-mail:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Internet address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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. Commenters 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-2008-0111/
Airspace Docket No. 08-AAL-2.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped
and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or 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
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for
examination in the public docket both before and after the closing date
for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.

Availability of Notice of Proposed Rulemakings (NPRMs)

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://.

www.faa.gov or the Superintendent of Document's Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html
.

    Additionally, any person may obtain a copy of this notice by
submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of
Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591 or by calling<PHONE_NUMBER>. Communications must
identify both docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in
being placed on a mailing list for future NPRMs should contact the
FAA's Office of Rulemaking,<PHONE_NUMBER>, to request a copy of
Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution
System, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to the Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR Part 71), which would establish Class E airspace at
the White Hills Airstrip, in White Hills, AK. The intended effect of
this proposal is to establish Class E airspace upward from 700 ft. and
1,200 ft. above the surface to contain Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
operations at the White Hills Airstrip, White Hills, AK.
    The FAA Instrument Flight Procedures Production and Maintenance
Branch has developed two Special IAPs and a Special ODP for the White
Hills Airstrip. The new Special approaches are (1) the Area Navigation
(RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 04, Original (Orig)
and (2) the RNAV (GPS) RWY 22, Orig. Textual ODPs are unnamed and are
typically published in the front of the U.S. Terminal Procedures for
Alaska. In this case because the procedures have been funded by a
private entity, they will not be published. Class E controlled airspace
is still required, and would extend upward from 700 ft. and 1,200 ft.
above the surface in the White Hills Airstrip area, and would be
established by this action. The proposed airspace is sufficient in size
to contain aircraft executing the Special IAPs at the White Hills
Airstrip, White Hills, AK.
    The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North
American Datum 83. The Class E airspace areas designated as 700/1200
foot transition areas are published in paragraph 6005 in FAA Order
7400.9R, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, signed August 15,
2007, and effective September 15, 2007, which is incorporated by
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in
this document would be published subsequently in the Order.
    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 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.
    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle 1, 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 1, Section 40103, Sovereignty and use of
airspace. Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing
regulations to ensure the safe and efficient use of the navigable
airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because
it proposes to create Class E airspace sufficient in size to contain
aircraft executing Special instrument procedures at the White Hills
Airstrip, AK, and represents the FAA's continuing effort to safely and
efficiently use the navigable airspace.

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, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

    1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9R, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, signed August 15, 2007, and effective September 15,
2007, is to be amended as follows:
* * * * *

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Extending Upward from 700 feet or
More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 White Hills, AK [New]

White Hills, White Hills Airstrip, AK
    (Lat. 69[deg]42'15'' N., long. 149[deg]53'56'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 4.5-mile radius of the White Hills Airstrip, and within 1.0
mile either side of the 246[deg](T) 268[deg](M) bearing from the
White Hills Airstrip, extending from the 4.5-mile radius to 7.0
miles southwest of the White Hills Airstrip, and within 1.0 mile
either side of the 067[deg](T)/089[deg](M) bearing from the White
Hills Airstrip, extending from the 4.5-mile radius to 7.0 miles
northeast of the White Hills Airstrip; and that airspace extending
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 72-mile radius of
the White Hills Airstrip.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on February 8, 2008.
Derril D. Bergt,
Acting Manager, Alaska Flight Services Information Area Group.
 [FR Doc. E8-2976 Filed 2-15-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P