Establishment of Restricted Area R-3008D, and Amendment of Restricted Areas R-3008A, R-3008B, and R-3008C; Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 93-ASO-2]

Establishment of Restricted Area R-3008D, and Amendment of

Restricted Areas R-3008A, R-3008B, and R-3008C; Grand Bay Weapons

Range, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Restricted Area R-3008D above existing

Restricted Areas R-3008A, R-3008B, and R-3008C at the Grand Bay Weapons

Range, Moody Air Force Base (AFB), GA. The new restricted area is

required to accommodate high altitude/high angle weapons delivery

training at the Grand Bay Weapons Range. In addition, the designated

controlling agency for Restricted Areas R-3008A, R-3008B, and R-3008C

is changed from FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC to U.S. Air Force, Valdosta

Approach Control. Further, this action amends the title of the using

agency for Restricted Areas R-3008A, R-3008B, and R-3008C to reflect

the current organizational name.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, April 28, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Paul Gallant, Military Operations

Program Office, Office of Air Traffic System Management, Federal

Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC

20591; telephone: (202) 267-9361.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

On August 3, 1993, the FAA proposed to amend part 73 of the Federal

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

3008D above the existing Grand Bay Weapons Range Restricted Areas R-

3008A, R-3008B, and R-3008C, located at Moody AFB, GA (58 FR 41214). In

addition, the FAA proposed to change the designated controlling agency

for the existing Restricted Areas R-3008A, R-3008B, and R-3008C from

FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC to Valdosta Approach Control.

Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking

proceeding by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA.

No comments objecting to the proposal were received. The proposed

amendment, as published in the notice, incorrectly listed the proposed

controlling agency for all four restricted areas as ``FAA, Valdosta

Approach Control.'' Valdosta Approach Control is a military-operated

air traffic control facility, rather than FAA, and has been delegated

controlling agency responsibility for the Grand Bay Weapons Range by

the Jacksonville ARTCC. This action corrects the controlling agency

title to read ``U.S. Air Force, Valdosta Approach Control.'' Although

not described in the notice, this action also amends the title of the

using agency for the existing Restricted Areas R-3008A, R-3008B, and R-

3008C by deleting the word ``Tactical'' from the title to reflect the

current organizational name. Except for the changes noted above, this

amendment is the same as that proposed in the notice. The coordinates

for this airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. Section

73.30 of part 73 of the Federal Aviation Regulations was republished in

FAA Order 7400.8A dated March 3, 1993.

The Rule

This amendment to part 73 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

establishes Restricted Area R-3008D at the Grand Bay Weapons Range to

extend the vertical limits of the range to but not including flight

level 230. As a result of experience gained in Operation Desert Storm,

the U.S. Air Force determined that it was necessary to expand air-to-

surface weapons delivery profiles to include high altitude/high angle

deliveries. This action provides the necessary vertical airspace to

accommodate these current training requirements. In addition, this

action changes the controlling agency for all Grand Bay Weapons Range

restricted areas from ``FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC'' to ``U.S. Air Force,

Valdosta Approach Control.'' By letter of agreement between

Jacksonville ARTCC and the U.S. Air Force, the FAA has delegated the

affected airspace to Valdosta Approach Control. Finally, this action

deletes the word ``Tactical'' from the name of the current using agency

for R-3008A, R-3008B, and R-3008C in order to reflect the correct

organizational name.

Environmental Review

In accordance with FAA Order 1050.1D, ``Policies and Procedures for

Considering Environmental Impacts,'' this action is not subject to

environmental assessments and procedures.

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.

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 will not have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the

Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

Airspace, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 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.

Sec. 73.30 [Amended]

2. In each of the designations in Sec. 73.30 listed below, remove

the words ``FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC'' for the controlling agency and

insert, in their place, the words ``U.S. Air Force, Valdosta Approach

Control.'' Also, in each of the designations listed below amend the

title for the using agency by deleting the word ``Tactical'' to reflect

the current organizational name.

R-3008A Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

R-3008B Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

R-3008C Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA

3. Add the following designation in Sec. 73.30 to read as follows:

R-3008D Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA [New]

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.04'01'' N., long 83 deg.01'00''

W.; to lat.30 deg.51'01'' N., long 83 deg.01'00'' W.; to lat.

30 deg.51'01'' N., long 83 deg.08'00'' W.; to lat. 30 deg.53'31''

N., long 83 deg.09'00'' W.; to lat. 30 deg.56'51'' N., long

83 deg.10'00'' W.; to lat. 30 deg.57'36'' N., long 83 deg.11'05''

W.; to lat. 30 deg.59'13'' N., long 83 deg.10'00'' W.; to lat.

31 deg.02'01'' N., long 83 deg.09'00'' W.; to lat. 31 deg.04'01''

N., long 83 deg.08'00'' W.; to the point of beginning.

Designated altitudes. 10,000 feet MSL to but not including FL 230.

Time of designation. 0700-1900 local time, Monday-Friday, other

times by NOTAM six hours in advance.

Controlling agency. U.S. Air Force, Valdosta Approach Control. Using

agency. U.S. Air Force, 347th Fighter Wing, Moody AFB, GA.

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 24, 1994.

Willis C. Nelson,

Acting Manager, Airspace-Rules and Aeronautical Information Division.

[FR Doc. 94-5272 Filed 3-7-94; 8:45 am]

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