Proposed Modification of Restricted Areas R-2303A and R-2303B, and Establishment of R-2303C, Fort Huachuca, AZ

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 93-AWP-8]

Proposed Modification of Restricted Areas R-2303A and R-2303B,

and Establishment of R-2303C, Fort Huachuca, AZ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would amend Restricted Areas R-2303A and R-

2303B, and establish R-2303C at Fort Huachuca, AZ. R-2303A would be

amended to exclude the Fort Huachuca/Libby AAF/Sierra Vista Municipal

Airport from the restricted area and provide airspace for visual flight

rules (VFR) access to the airport when R-2303A is in use. The proposal

would lower the floor and ceiling and revise the lateral dimensions of

R-2303B in order to accommodate unmanned aerial vehicle training

profiles. R-2303B would be further subdivided by redesignating the

southeast corner of the existing area as a separate restricted area, R-

2303C. Additionally this notice proposes to reduce the published hours

of operation for R-2303A and R-2303B. As proposed, the time of

designation for the new area, R-2303C, would be intermittent by a

Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). These changes are proposed to accommodate

increased training requirements and to return unneeded special use

airspace to the National Airspace System (NAS).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 26, 1994.

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

Traffic Division, AWP-500 Docket No. 93-AWP-8, Federal Aviation

Administration, P. O. Box 92007, Worldway Postal Center, Los Angeles,

CA 90009.

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 5:00 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: James R. Robinson, Military Operations

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

Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, D.C. 20591; telephone: (202) 493-4050.

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-AWP-8.'' The

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

comments on environmental and land use aspects to: Commander, U.S. Army

Garrison, Attn: Mr. John Murray ATZS-EHB, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-6000.

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 amend R-2303A to exclude from

the restricted area the airspace from the surface to 1,500 feet above

ground level (AGL), within a 3-nautical-mile radius of the Fort

Huachuca/Libby AAF/Sierra Vista Municipal Airport. The airspace from

the surface to 1,500 feet AGL within 1-nautical-mile either side of

U.S. Highway 90 would also be excluded. This would provide VFR access

to the airport when R-2303A is in use. R-2303B would be amended by

relocating the northern boundary 3 miles south of its existing

position. This would better accommodate hang gliding activity that

takes place just outside of the northwest corner of existing R-2303B.

R-2303B would also be subdivided to designate the southeastern section

as a separate restricted area, R-2303C. This notice also proposes to

lower the floor of R-2303B from 15,000 feet MSL to 8,000 feet MSL in

order to accommodate unmanned aerial vehicle training profiles. The

ceiling of R-2303B would be lowered from FL 450 to FL 300. This new

subarea would extend from 8,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) to FL 300.

The U.S. Army has determined that there is no longer a requirement for

restricted airspace above FL 300, therefore, that airspace would be

returned to the NAS. Lastly, the times of designation for R-2303A and

R-2303B would be reduced from ``Monday-Saturday, 0700-1600 local time;

other times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance,'' to ``Monday-

Friday, 0700-1600 local time; other times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in

advance.'' Activation of R-2303C would be intermittent by NOTAM at

least 24 hours in advance. Designation of R-2303C is proposed to

accommodate hang gliding activities that occur just outside of the

southeastern corner of existing R-2303B. The coordinates for this

airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. Section 73.23 of

part 73 of the Federal Aviation Regulations was republished in FAA

Order 7400.8B dated March 9, 1994.

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

An environmental review of the proposal will be conducted by the

U.S. Army and the FAA prior to an FAA final decision on the proposal.

The results of the review will be addressed in any subsequent

rulemaking 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 73.23 is amended as follows:

Sec. 73.23 [Amended]

R-2303A Fort Huachuca, AZ [Revised]

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.40'40'' N., long.

110 deg.11'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.34'00'' N., long. 110 deg.08'32'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.34'00'' N., long. 110 deg.22'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.33'00'' N., long. 110 deg.23'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.29'00'' N., long. 110 deg.23'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.29'00'' N., long. 110 deg.41'32'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.34'00'' N., long. 110 deg.43'32'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.38'30'' N., long. 110 deg.42'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.38'30'' N., long. 110 deg.39'32'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.41'00'' N., long. 110 deg.33'32'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.41'00'' N., long. 110 deg.12'02'' W.;

To the point of beginning.

Altitudes. Surface to 15,000 feet MSL, excluding the airspace

from the surface to 1,500 feet AGL within a 3-nautical-mile radius

of the Fort Huachuca/Libby AAF/Sierra Vista Municipal Airport, AZ,

and excluding the airspace from the surface to 1,500 feet AGL within

1-nautical-mile either side of U.S. Highway 90.

Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-1600 local time; other

times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.

Controlling agency. FAA, Albuquerque ARTCC.

Using agency. U.S. Army Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, AZ.

R-2303B Fort Huachuca, AZ [Revised]

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.45'00'' N., long.

110 deg.20'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.41'00'' N., long. 110 deg.12'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.40'40'' N., long. 110 deg.11'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.34'00'' N., long. 110 deg.08'32'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.34'00'' N., long. 110 deg.22'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.33'00'' N., long. 110 deg.23'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.29'00'' N., long. 110 deg.23'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.29'00'' N., long. 110 deg.25'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.24'00'' N., long. 110 deg.25'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.24'00'' N., long. 110 deg.45'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.45'00'' N., long. 110 deg.45'52'' W.;

To the point of beginning.

Altitudes. 8,000 feet MSL to FL 300.

Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-1600 local time; other

times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.

Controlling agency. FAA, Albuquerque ARTCC.

Using agency. U.S. Army Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, AZ.

R-2303C Fort Huachuca, AZ [New]

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.35'00'' N., long.

110 deg.00'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.24'00'' N., long. 110 deg.00'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.24'00'' N., long. 110 deg.25'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.29'00'' N., long. 110 deg.25'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.29'00'' N., long. 110 deg.23'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.33'00'' N., long. 110 deg.23'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.34'00'' N., long. 110 deg.22'02'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.34'00'' N., long. 110 deg.08'32'' W.;

To lat. 31 deg.40'40'' N., long. 110 deg.11'02'' W.;

To the point of beginning.

Altitudes. 15,000 feet MSL to FL 300.

Time of designation. Intermittent by NOTAM at least 24 hours in

advance.

Controlling agency. FAA, Albuquerque ARTCC.

Using agency. U.S. Army Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, AZ.

Issued in Washington, DC, on July 8, 1994.

Harold W. Becker,

Manager, Airspace-Rules and Aeronautical Information Division.

[FR Doc. 94-17800 Filed 7-20-94, 8:45 am]

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