Establishment of Class E Airspace; Griffith, Indiana

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 94-AGL-14]

Establishment of Class E Airspace; Griffith, Indiana

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to establish Class E5 airspace at

Griffith, Indiana, to accommodate a new VOR/DME Runway 26 Standard

Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) to Griffith-Merrillville Airport.

Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 to 1200 feet above ground

level (AGL) is needed to contain aircraft executing the approach. The

intended effect of this proposal is to provide segregation of aircraft

using instrument approach procedure in instrument conditions from other

aircraft operating in visual weather conditions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 7, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal

Aviation Administration, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, AGL-7,

Rules Docket No. 94-AGL-14, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois 60018.

The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant

Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue,

Des Plaines, Illinois. An informal docket may also be examined during

normal business hours at the Air Traffic Division, System Management

Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des

Plaines, Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Robert J. Woodford, Air Traffic

Division, System Management Branch, AGL-530, Federal Aviation

Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018,

telephone (708) 294-7568.

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 the airspace docket number 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 Airspace Docket No. 94-

AGL-14.'' 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 Rules Docket, FAA, Great Lakes Region, Office of

the Assistant Chief Counsel, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois, 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 NPRM's

Any person may obtain a copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration,

Office of Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry Center, APA-220,

800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202)

267-3485. Communications must identify the notice number of this NPRM.

Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's

should also request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which

describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is considering an amendment to part 71 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to establish Class E airspace at

Griffith, Indiana, to provide controlled airspace from 700 feet to 1200

feet AGL for aircraft executing the new VOR/DME Runway 26 SIAP into

Griffith-Merrillville Airport. The intended effect of this action is to

provide segregation of aircraft using instrument approach procedures in

instrument conditions from other aircraft operating in visual weather

conditions. Aeronautical maps and charts would reflect the defined

area, which would enable pilots to circumnavigate the area in order to

comply with applicable visual flight rules requirements.

The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North

American Datum 83. Class E airspace designations are published in

Paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9A date June 17, 1993, and effective

September 16, 1993, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1

(58 FR 36298; July 6, 1993). The Class E airspace designation 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 for the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

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--[AMENDED]

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

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. app. 1348(a), 1354(a), 1510; E.O. 10854, 24

FR 99565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); 14 CFR

11.69.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9A, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated June 17, 1993, and effective September 16,

1993, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700

feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

AGL IN E5 Griffith, IN [New]

Griffith-Merrillville Airport

(Lat. 41 deg.31'11'' N., long. 87 deg.24'04'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface

within a 6.3 mile radius of the Griffith-Merrillville Airport,

excluding that area within the Chicago, IL Class E airspace area.

* * * * *

Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 18, 1994.

Roger Wall,

Manager, Air Traffic Division.

[FR Doc. 94-10383 Filed 4-29-94; 8:45 am]

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