Proposed Establishment of Restricted Area R-6302E; Fort Hood, TX

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 93-ASW-28]

Proposed Establishment of Restricted Area R-6302E; Fort Hood, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would establish Restricted Area R-6302E,

Fort Hood, TX, above the existing Restricted Areas R-6302A, B, C, and

D, at Fort Hood, TX. The proposed Restricted Area R-6302E would provide

special use airspace to accommodate the firing of heatseeker missiles

at the Fort Hood Army Airfield (AAF) weapons complex.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 22, 1994

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air

Traffic Division, ASW-500, Docket No. 93-ASW-28, Federal Aviation

Administration, 4400 Blue Mound Road, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.

The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of

the Chief Counsel, room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business

hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Riley, Military Operations

Program Office (ATM-420), Office of Air Traffic System Management,

Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-7130.

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,

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. 93-ASW-28.'' The

postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. Send

comments on environmental and land use aspects to: Director,

Engineering and Housing, Environmental Management Office, Fort Hood, TX

76544-5056. 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 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 this 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 73 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 73) to establish Restricted Area, R-

6302E, Fort Hood, TX, above the existing Restricted Areas R-6302A, B,

C, and D, to accommodate the firing of heatseeker missiles at the Fort

Hood AAF weapons complex. The maximum altitude of the existing Fort

Hood restricted area is 30,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). The proposed

Restricted Area R-6302E would coincide with the existing lateral

boundaries of Restricted Areas R-6302A, B, C, and D, and would extend

from 30,000 feet MSL to 45,000 feet MSL. This action is a result of a

Special Use Airspace Review conducted at the Fort Hood AAF in May 1993.

The proposed Restricted Area R-6302E would be a joint-use restricted

area, activated by NOTAM 48 hours in advance, not to exceed 90 days per

year, weather makeup days included. The airspace would be returned to

the controlling agency when not required for military activities. The

U.S. Army does not expect any increase in the total annual usage of the

area as a result of this proposal.

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.

Environmental Review

This proposal will be reviewed for environmental impact prior to

any final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

Airspace, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 73 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. app. 1348(a), 1354(a), 1510, 1522; E.O.

10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389; 49 U.S.C. 106(g);

14 CFR 11.69.

2. Section 73.63 is amended as follows:

Sec. 73.63 [Amended]

R-6302E Fort Hood, TX [New]

Boundaries: Beginning at lat. 31 deg.24'01''-N., long.

97 deg.48'01''-W.;

To lat. 31 deg.23'01'' N., long. 97 deg.43'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.22'08'' N., long. 97 deg.41'56'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.21'01'' N., long. 97 deg.41'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.20'01'' N., long. 97 deg.41'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.14'01'' N., long. 97 deg.33'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.06'01'' N., long. 97 deg.33'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.08'01'' N., long. 97 deg.39'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.10'01'' N., long. 97 deg.41'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.09'01'' N., long. 97 deg.43'31'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.09'01'' N., long. 97 deg.55'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.16'01'' N., long. 97 deg.54'01'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.19'01'' N., long. 97 deg.51'01'' W.;

To the point of beginning.

Designated altitudes: 30,000 feet MSL to 45,000 feet MSL.

Times of designation: By NOTAM 48 hours in advance.

Controlling agency: FAA, Houston ARTCC.

Using agency: U.S. Army, Commanding Officer, Fort Hood, TX.

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 26, 1994.

Harold W. Becker,

Manager, Airspace--Rules and Aeronautical Information Division.

[FR Doc. 94-10959 Filed 5-5-94, 8:45 am]

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