Amendment of Class E Airspace for the Following Louisiana Towns; De Quincy, LA; Minden, LA; Slidell, LA; and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Homer, LA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, De Quincy, LA; Minden Airport, Minden, LA; and Slidell, Airport, Slidell, LA. The decommissioning of non-directional radio beacons (NDB) and/or cancellation of NDB approaches due to advances in Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities, and implementation of area navigation (RNAV) procedures have made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at these airports. This action also removes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Homer Municipal Airport, Homer, LA, as controlled airspace is no longer needed. Additionally, the name of Minden Airport (formerly Minden-Webster Airport) and the geographic coordinates at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, Minden Airport, and Slidell Airport are being adjusted to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, September 15, 2016. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under Title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES:

FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://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 7400.9Z at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.

FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

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 E airspace at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, De Quincy, LA; Homer Municipal Airport, Homer, LA; Minden Airport, Minden, LA; and Slidell, Airport, Slidell, LA.

History

On April 13, 2016, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (81 FR 21774), Docket No. FAA-2016-4429, to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, De Quincy, LA; Homer Municipal Airport, Homer, LA; Minden Airport, Minden, LA; and Slidell, Airport, Slidell, LA. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Subsequent to publication, the FAA found that Minden-Webster Airport had been changed to Minden Airport and is noted as such in this rule.

Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9Z, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document amends FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 2015. FAA Order 7400.9Z is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.9Z lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

This amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.5-mile radius of De Quincy Industrial Airpark, De Quincy, LA; within a 6.5-mile radius of Minden Airport, Minden, LA; and within a 6.5-mile radius of Slidell Airport, Slidell, LA, with segments extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 9.2 miles north, and 9 miles south of the airport. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of NDBs, cancellation of NDB approaches, and implementation of RNAV procedures at the above airports. The Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.8-mile radius of Homer Municipal Airport, Homer, LA, is being removed as controlled airspace is no longer needed. Additionally, the name of Minden Airport (formerly Minden-Webster Airport) and the geographic coordinates at De Quincy Industrial Airpark, Minden Airport, and Slidell Airport are being adjusted to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. All modifications to the Class E airspace are in accordance with airspace requirements specified in FAA Joint Order 7400.2K, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of standard instrument approach procedures for IFR operations at the airports.

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 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 5-6.5.a. 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

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.

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 2015, is amended as follows:

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

ASW LA E5 De Quincy, LA [Amended]

De Quincy Industrial Airpark, LA

(Lat. 30°26′28″ N., long. 93°28′25″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.5-mile radius of De Quincy Industrial Airpark.

ASW LA E5 Homer, LA [Removed]

ASW LA E5 Minden, LA [Amended]

Minden Airport, LA

(Lat. 32°38′46″ N., long. 93°17′53″ W.)

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

ASW LA E5 Slidell, LA [Amended]

Slidell Airport, LA

(Lat. 30°20′47″ N., long. 89°49′15″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.5-mile radius of Slidell Airport, and within 4.0 miles each side of the 360° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 9.2 miles north of the airport, and within 4.0 miles each side of the 180° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 9.0 miles south of the airport.