Proposed Alteration and Revocation of Restricted Areas, R-3007A, B, C, D, E; Townsend, GA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 96-ASO-10]

Proposed Alteration and Revocation of Restricted Areas, R-3007A,

B, C, D, E; Townsend, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to reconfigure Restricted Areas R-3007A,

B, C, D, and E at Townsend Range, GA. Specifically, this action

proposes to reduce the lateral size and increase the vertical limits of

the subareas, and increase the time of designation for each of the

revised subareas by 6 hours per day. These amendments are necessary to

accommodate Department of Defense (DOD) training requirements and to

eliminate those areas of the restricted airspace that are no longer

required for military activity. Additionally, this action changes the

name of the using agency for the reconfigured R-3007 subareas.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 21, 1997.

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

Traffic Division, ASO-500, Docket No. 96-ASO-10, Federal Aviation

Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, GA 30320. 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: Paul Gallant, Airspace and Rules

Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal

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

20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

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. 96-

ASO-10.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the

commenter. Send comments on environmental and land-use aspects to: ANG/

CEVP, 3500 Fetchet Avenue, Andrews AFB, MD 20331-5157, ATTN: Lt. Col.

Kent Adams. 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 Air Traffic Airspace Management, Attention: Airspace and

Rules Division, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC

20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the

notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a

mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the Federal Aviation

Administration, Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, to request a copy

of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which describes the application

procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to part 73 of Title 14 of the

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR part 73) to reconfigure R-3007A, B,

C, D, and E, in Townsend, GA, to accommodate DOD training requirements,

and eliminate restricted airspace no longer required for military

training activity.

This amendment would eliminate all restricted airspace currently

designated as R-3007A and approximately one half of the restricted

airspace currently designated as R-3007B. The remaining restricted

airspace would be reconfigured into three subareas: R-3007A, B, and C.

Subarea R-3007D would be redesignated as a new area directly above the

revised R-3007A, B, and C. R-3007A would be revised to describe the

circular surface target area currently designated as R-3007E. The

designation R-3007E would be revoked. The entire subarea currently

designated as R-3007D would be redescribed as R-3007B. The existing

subarea R-3007C would be revised to retain its original area, plus

incorporate the remaining portion of the former R-3007B subarea. The

redesignated area, R-3007D, would extend from 13,000 feet above mean

sea level (MSL) to flight level 250 (FL 250) in order to accommodate

high-altitude, high-angle weapons delivery training. At the present

time, the existing 13,000-foot MSL ceiling at Townsend Range precludes

the conduct of this essential training at the range. This action also

proposes a 6-hour per day increase in the time of designation for the

revised Townsend Range complex from the current ``Monday-Friday, 0800-

1700 local time. Other times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance'' to

``Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other times by NOTAM at least 24

hours in

[[Page 64495]]

advance.'' This proposed change would permit more flexible range

utilization and accommodate increased night training requirements. It

is estimated that use of the Townsend Range would average 8 hours

daily. Although the range is currently authorized for use before 0800

or after 1700 local time through issuance of a NOTAM at least 24 hours

in advance, the proposed increase in the normal operating time of the

range would more accurately inform other National Airspace System users

of time periods when the range may be in use as well as reduce NOTAM

system workload. The proposed restricted areas would be returned to the

controlling agency on a real-time basis when not required for military

activities. All operations in the range will be subsonic. Additionally,

the using agency name for the proposed reconfigured airspace subareas

would be changed from ``Savannah Air National Guard Training Site,

Garden City, GA'' to ``ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center,

GA'' to reflect the current organizational name.

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 published in FAA Order 7400.8D dated July 11, 1996.

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 subject to appropriate environmental impact

analysis by the proponent and the FAA prior to any FAA 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 14 CFR part 73 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24

FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389; 14 CFR 11.69.

Sec. 73.30 [Amended]

2. Section 73.30 is amended as follows:

R-3007A Townsend, GA [Revised]

Boundaries. A circular area with a 1.5-mile radius centered at

lat. 31 deg.33'16''N., long. 81 deg.34'44''W.

Designated altitudes. Surface to but not including 13,000 feet

MSL.

Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other

times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.

Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.

Using agency. ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center,

GA.

R-3007B Townsend, GA [Revised]

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long.

81 deg.28'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.37'31''N., long. 81 deg.28'14''W.;

to lat. 31 deg.32'31''N., long. 81 deg.27'29''W.; to lat.

31 deg.26'16''N., long. 81 deg.31'29''W.; to lat. 31 deg.25'31''N.,

long. 81 deg.35'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.27'26''N., long.

81 deg.33'39''W.; to lat. 31 deg.31'16''N., long. 81 deg.31'59''W.;

thence along a 1 NM radius arc clockwise of a point centered at lat.

31 deg.32'26''N., long. 81 deg.31'49''W.; to lat. 31 deg.33'16''N.,

long. 81 deg.31'14''W.; to the point of beginning.

Designated altitudes. 1,200 feet AGL to but not including 13,000

feet MSL.

Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other

times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.

Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.

Using agency. ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center,

GA.

R-3007C Townsend, GA [Revised]

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long.

81 deg.46'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.42'31''N., long. 81 deg.33'59''W.;

to lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long. 81 deg.28'59''W.; to lat.

31 deg.33'16''N., long. 81 deg.31'14''W.; thence along a 1 NM radius

arc counterclockwise of a point centered at lat. 31 deg.32'26''N.,

long. 81 deg.31'49''W.; to lat. 31 deg.31'16''N., long.

81 deg.31'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.27'26''N., long. 81 deg.33'39''W.;

to lat. 31 deg.25'31''N., long. 81 deg.35'59''W.; thence west along

the Altamaha River to the point of beginning; excluding R-3007A.

Designated altitudes. 100 feet AGL to but not including 13,000

feet MSL.

Time of designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other

times by NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.

Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.

Using agency. ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center,

GA. R-3007D Townsend, GA [Revised]

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long.

81 deg.46'59''W.; to lat. 31 deg.42'31''N., long. 81 deg.33'59''W.;

to lat. 31 deg.38'01''N., long. 81 deg.28'59''W.; to lat.

31 deg.37'31''N., long. 81 deg.28'14''W.; to lat. 31 deg.32'31''N.,

long. 81 deg.27'29''W.; to lat. 31 deg.26'16''N., long.

81 deg.31'29''W.; to lat. 31 deg.25'31''N., long. 81 deg.35'59''W.;

thence northwest along the Altamaha River to the point of beginning.

Designated altitudes. 13,000 feet MSL to FL 250. Time of

designation. Monday-Friday, 0700-2200 local time; other times by

NOTAM at least 24 hours in advance.

Controlling agency. FAA, Jacksonville ARTCC.

Using agency. ANG, Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center,

GA.

R-3007E Townsend, GA [Removed]

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 22, 1996.

Harold W. Becker,

Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.

[FR Doc. 96-30997 Filed 12-4-96; 8:45 am]

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