Proposed Modification of the Phoenix Class B Airspace Area; Arizona

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 94-AWA-1]

Proposed Modification of the Phoenix Class B Airspace Area;

Arizona

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM).

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SUMMARY: On February 4, 1997, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking (NPRM) which proposed to modify the Phoenix (PHX), AZ, Class

B airspace area. Specifically, that action proposed to: Reconfigure

several area boundaries; create new areas; and raise and/or lower the

floors of several of the existing areas. In the NPRM, several subareas

of the PHX Class B airspace area were inadvertently plotted and

described using incorrect bearings from the Phoenix Very High Frequency

Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). This document

corrects that error and amends the proposed legal description of the

PHX Class B airspace area by changing the incorrect bearings to reflect

the actual intentions of the FAA.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 22, 1997.

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

Aviation Administration, Office of the

[[Page 44599]]

Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket, AGC-200, Airspace Docket No.

94-AWA-1, 800 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591.

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, Systems

Management Branch Office, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Hawthorne, CA,

90261.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William C. Nelson, 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

The comment period for the NPRM for the PHX Class B airspace area

modification expired on May 2, 1997. However, interested parties are

invited to comment on the changes to the NPRM as detailed in this SNPRM

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 changes to the

proposal as presented in this SNPRM. 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-AWA-1.'' 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 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 SNPRM by submitting a request

to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace

Management, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by

calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the notice number

of this SNPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for

future NPRM's should call the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-

9677, for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application

procedure.

Background

On February 4, 1997, the FAA proposed to modify the PHX Class B

airspace area (62 FR 5188). The NPRM proposed to reconfigure several

area boundaries; create new areas; and raise and/or lower the floors of

several of the existing areas. On April 2, 1997, the FAA reopened the

comment period (62 FR 15635) at the request of several user

organizations as additional time was necessary to fully analyze the

proposal and make comments. The comment period closed on May 2, 1997.

The FAA has subsequently discovered that several subareas of the

PHX Class B airspace area were inadvertently plotted and described

using incorrect bearings from the Phoenix VORTAC.

On aeronautical charts, bearings to or from a point are labeled

relative to magnetic north. In airspace legal descriptions, however,

the true north equivalent of each bearing is published. In the Phoenix,

AZ, area, the variance between magnetic north and true north is

approximately 12 deg.; therefore, to convert a bearing from magnetic to

true, one must add 12 deg..

With regard to subareas D, H, I, J, and K of the proposed modified

PHX Class B airspace area, bearings intended as magnetic were

erroneously plotted and published as true; no conversions were made.

This error resulted in bearings, and geographical coordinates derived

therefrom, being plotted 12 deg. counterclockwise, relative to the

Phoenix VORTAC, from their intended positions.

The purpose of this document is to correct the proposed legal

description of the PHX Class B airspace area to reflect the actual

intentions of the FAA. Only those subareas of the PHX Class B airspace

area affected by the error are addressed in this document.

The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North

American Datum 83. Class B airspace areas are published in paragraph

3000 of FAA Order 7400.9D dated September 4, 1996, and effective

September 16, 1996, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part

71.1. The Class B airspace area listed in this document would be

published subsequently in the Order.

The Proposal

On February 4, 1997, the FAA proposed to modify the PHX Class B

airspace area. This document proposes to alter the February 4, 1997,

proposal by amending the legal description of certain subareas of the

PHX Class B airspace area to reflect the actual intentions of the FAA.

Specifically, this action proposes to alter the February 4, 1997,

proposal by changing the bearings from the Phoenix VORTAC which are

used to describe subareas D, H, I, J, and K.

This proposal would change each affected bearing by adding 12 deg.

to the previously published bearing; this reflects the conversion

factor from magnetic to true which was previously omitted. The result

of adding 12 deg. to each affected bearing would be to shift subareas

I, J, K, and the eastern portion of H, 12 deg. clockwise relative to

the PHX VORTAC.

The practical effects of this change would be to (1) eliminate

approximately 23 square miles of airspace north of PHX, in the vicinity

of Sky Ranch Carefree Airport, from the previous proposal to modify the

PHX Class B airspace area; and (2) to add to the previous proposal

approximately 23 square miles of airspace south of PHX in the area

southwest of Bapchule, AZ.

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 proposed 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.

[[Page 44600]]

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--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND

CLASS E, AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

1. The authority citation for part 71 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.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

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

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9D, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 4, 1996, and effective September 16,

1996, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 3000--Class B Airspace

* * * * *

AWP AZ B Phoenix, AZ [Revised]

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Primary Airport)

(lat. 33 deg.26'10''N., long. 112 deg.00'34''W.)

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.25'59''N., long. 111 deg.58'13''W.)

Boundaries

Area A. That airspace extending upward from the surface to and

including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of 51st

Avenue and Camelback Road (lat. 33 deg.30'34''N., long.

112 deg.10'08''W.), extending east along Camelback Road to the

intersection of Camelback Road and Dobson Road (lat.

33 deg.30'07''N., Long. 111 deg.52'26''W.), thence south on Dobson

Road to the intersection of Dobson Road and Guadalupe Road (lat.

33 deg.21'49''N., long. 111 deg.52'35''W.), thence west on Guadalupe

Road to the intersection of Guadalupe Road and Interstate 10 (lat.

33 deg.21'50''N., long. 111 deg.58'08''W.), thence direct to lat.

33 deg.21'48''N., long. 112 deg.06'30''W., thence west on Guadalupe

Road to the intersection of Guadalupe Road and 51st Avenue (lat.

33 deg.21'46''N., long. 112 deg.10'09''W.), thence north on 51st

Avenue to the point of beginning.

Area B. That airspace extending upward from 3,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of 99th

Avenue and Camelback Road (lat. 33 deg.30'29''N., long.

112 deg.16'22''W.), thence east on Camelback Road to the

intersection of Camelback Road and 51st Avenue (lat.

33 deg.30'34''N., long. 112 deg.10'08''W.), thence south on 51st

Avenue to the intersection of 51st Avenue and Guadalupe Road (lat.

33 deg.21'46''N., long. 112 deg.10'09''W.), thence direct to lat.

33 deg.21'48''N., long. 112 deg.06'30''W., thence south direct to

lat. 33 deg.18'18''N., long. 112 deg.06'30''W., thence west on

Chandler Boulevard to the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and the

Gila River (lat. 33 deg.18'18''N., long. 112 deg.13'11''W.), thence

northwest along the Gila River to the intersection of the Gila River

and 99th Avenue, (lat. 33 deg.22'38''N., long. 112 deg.16'21''W.),

thence north along the extension of 99th Avenue to the point of

beginning.

Area C. That airspace extending upward from 3,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of

Guadalupe Road and Interstate 10 (lat. 33 deg.21'50'' N., long.

111 deg.58'98'' W.), thence south on Interstate 10 to the

intersection of Interstate 10 and Chandler Boulevard (lat.

33 deg.18'19'' N., long. 111 deg.58'21'' W.), thence east on

Chandler Boulevard to the intersection of Gilbert Road and Chandler

Boulevard (lat. 33 deg.18'19'' N., long. 111 deg.47'22'' W.), thence

north on Gilbert Road to the intersection of Indian Bend Road (lat.

33 deg.32'20'' N., long. 111 deg.47'23'' W.), thence west on Indian

Bend Road to the intersection of Indian Bend Road and Pima/Price

Road (lat. 33 deg.32'18'' N., long. 111 deg.53'29'' W.), thence

south on Pima/Price Road to the intersection of Pima/Price Road and

Camelback Road (lat. 33 deg.30'07'' N, long. 111 deg.53'29'' W.),

thence east on Camelback Road to Dobson Road (lat. 33 deg.30'07'' N,

long. 111 deg.52'26'' W.), thence south on Dobson Road to the

intersection of Dobson Road and Guadalupe Road (lat. 33 deg.32'49''

N., long. 111 deg.52'35'' W.), thence west on Guadalupe Road to the

point of beginning.

Area D. That airspace extending upward from 4,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of

Cactus Road and the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC (lat.

33 deg.35'35'' N., long. 11137'13'' W.), thence clockwise along the

20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to the intersection of the 20-mile

arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the Phoenix VORTAC

091 deg.T(079 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.25'36'' N., long.

111 deg.34'19'' W.), thence west along the Phoenix VORTAC

091 deg.T(079 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 091 deg.T(079 deg.M) radial and the 15-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.25'42'' N., long. 111 deg.40'17'' W.),

thence south along the 15-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to the

intersection of the Phoenix VORTAC 15-mile arc and the Phoenix

VORTAC 127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.16'55'' N., long.

111 deg.43'55'' W.), thence southeast along the Phoenix VORTAC

127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial and the Phoenix VORTAC 20-mile

arc (lat. 33 deg.13'54'' N., long. 111 deg.39'10'' W.), thence

clockwise along the Phoenix VORTAC 20-mile arc to the intersection

of the Phoenix VORTAC 20-mile arc and Riggs Road (lat.

33 deg.12'58'' N., long. 111 deg.40'04'' W.), thence west along

Riggs Road to the intersection of the Lila River and Valley Road

(lat. 33 deg.15'20'' N., long. 122 deg.10'10'' W.), thence northwest

along the Gila River to the intersection of the Gila River and

Chandler Boulevard (lat. 33 deg.18'18'' N., long. 112 deg.12'03''

W.), thence east to lat. 33 deg.18'18'' N., long. 112 deg.06'30''

W., thence north to lat. 33 deg.21'48'' N., long. 112 deg.06'30''

W., thence east to the intersection of Guadalupe Road and Interstate

10 (lat. 33 deg.21'50'' N., long. 111 deg.58'08'' W.), thence south

on Interstate 10 to the intersection of Interstate 10 and Chandler

Boulevard (lat. 33 deg.18'19'' N., long. 111 deg.58'21'' W.), thence

east along Chandler Boulevard to the intersection of Chandler

Boulevard and Gilbert Road (lat. 33 deg.18'18'' N., long.

111 deg.47'22'' W.), thence north along Gilbert Road to the

intersection of Indian Bend Road (lat. 33 deg.32'20'' N., long.

111 deg.47'23'' W.), thence west along Indian Bend Road to the

intersection of Pima/Price Road (lat. 33 deg.32'18'' N., long.

111 deg.53'29'' W.), thence south along Pima/Price Road to the

intersection of Pima/Price Road and Camelback Road (lat.

33 deg.30'07'' N., long. 111 deg.53'29'' W.), thence west along

Camelback Road to the intersection of 99th Avenue (lat.

33 deg.30'29'' N., long. 112 deg.19'20'' W.), thence south on 99th

Avenue to the intersection of 99th Avenue and the Gila River (lat.

33 deg.19'55'' N., long. 112 deg.16'21'' W.), thence southeast along

the Gila River to the intersection of the Gila River and Chandler

Boulevard (lat. 33 deg.18'18'' N., long. 112 deg.12'03'' W.), thence

west along Chandler Boulevard to the intersection of an extension of

Chandler Boulevard and Litchfield Road (lat. 33 deg.18'18'' N.,

long. 112 deg.21'29'' W.), thence north along Litchfield Road to the

intersection of Litchfield Road and Camelback Road (lat.

33 deg.30'29'' N., long. 112 deg.21'29'' W.), thence east along

Camelback Road to lat. 33 deg.30'30'' N., long. 112 deg.19'23'' W.,

thence direct to lat. 33 deg.35'34'' N., long. 112 deg.'55'' W.,

thence direct to lat. 33 deg.36'35'' N., long. 112 deg.13'38'' W.,

thence east along Thunderbird Road and Cactus Road to the

intersection of Cactus Road and the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix

VORTAC.

Area E. That airspace extending upward from 6,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at lat. 33 deg.42'10"N.,

long. 112 deg.13'05"W., beginning on the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix

VORTAC, thence clockwise along the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC

to intersection of the Phoenix VORTAC 20-mile arc and Cactus Road

(lat. 33 deg.35'45"N., long. 111 deg.38'30"W.), thence west on

Cactus Road, to the intersection of Cactus Road and Thunderbird Road

(lat. 33 deg.36'35"N., long. 112 deg.13'38"W.), thence direct to the

point of beginning.

Area F. That airspace extending upward from 6,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of Riggs

Road and the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC (lat.

33 deg.13'10"N., long. 111 deg.40'04"W.), thence clockwise along the

20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to the intersection of the 20-mile

arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and Valley Road (lat. 33 deg.07'30"N.,

long. 112 deg.08'40"W.), thence north along Valley Road to the

intersection of Valley Road, Riggs Road and the Gila River (lat.

33 deg.1'10"N., long. 112 deg.09'58"W.), thence east along Riggs

Road to the point of beginning.

Area G. That airspace extending upward from 6,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of the

25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and Camelback Road (lat.

33 deg.30'30"N., long. 112 deg.21'26"W.), thence east on Camelback

Road to the intersection of Camelback Road

[[Page 44601]]

and Litchfield Road (lat. 33 deg.30'29"N., long. 112 deg.21'29"W.),

thence south on Litchfield Road to the intersection of Litchfield

Road and Chandler Boulevard (lat. 33 deg.18'18"N., long.

112 deg.21'29"W.), thence west along Chandler Boulevard to the

intersection of the 25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC (lat.

33 deg.10'10"N., long. 112 deg.26'34"W.), thence clockwise along the

25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to the point of beginning.

Area H. That airspace extending upward from 7,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at a point at lat.

33 deg.46'13"N., long. 112 deg.15'51"W., on the 25-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC, thence clockwise along the 25-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC to the intersection of the 25-mile arc of the Phoenix

VORTAC and Interstate 17 (lat. 33 deg.49'30"N., long.

112 deg.08'37"W.), thence south along Interstate 17 to the

intersection of Interstate 17 and the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix

VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.44'31"N., long. 112 deg.07'18"W.), thence

counterclockwise along the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to lat.

33 deg.41'41"N., long. 112 deg.13'05"W., thence direct to the point

of beginning; and that airspace beginning at the intersection of the

20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the Phoenix VORTAC

017 deg.T(005 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.45'08"N., long.

111 deg.51'12"W.), thence north along the Phoenix VORTAC

017 deg.T(005 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 017 deg.T(005 deg.M) radial and the 25-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.49'56"N., long. 111 deg.49'26"W.),

thence clockwise along the 25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to the

intersection of the 25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the

Phoenix VORTAC 037 deg.T(025 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.45'58"N.,

long. 111 deg.40'10"W.), thence southwest along the Phoenix VORTAC

037 deg.T(025 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 037 deg.T(025 deg.M) radial and the 20-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.41'58"N., long. 111 deg.43'47"W.),

thence counterclockwise along the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC

to the point of beginning.

Area I. That airspace extending upward from 7,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of the

20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the Phoenix VORTAC

127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.13'54"N., long.

111 deg.39'10"W.), thence southeast along the Phoenix VORTAC

127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial and the 25-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.10'52"N., long. 111 deg.34'25"W.),

thence clockwise along the 25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to the

intersection of the 25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the

Phoenix VORTAC 180 deg.T(168 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.00'56"N.,

long. 111 deg.58'13"W.), thence north along the Phoenix VORTAC

180 deg.T(168 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 180 deg.T(168 deg.M) radial and the 20-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.05'57"N., long. 111 deg.58'13"W.),

thence counterclockwise along the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC

to the point of beginning.

Area J. That airspace extending upward from 6,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of the

15-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the Phoenix VORTAC

091 deg.T(079 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.25'42"N., long.

111 deg.40'17"W.), thence east along the Phoenix VORTAC

091 deg.T(079 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 091 deg.T(079 deg.M) radial and the 20-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.25'36"N., long. 111 deg.34'19"W.),

thence clockwise along the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to the

intersection of the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the

Phoenix VORTAC 127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.13'54"N.,

long. 111 deg.39'10"W.), thence northwest along the Phoenix VORTAC

127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial and the 15-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.16'55"N., long. 111 deg.43'55"W.),

thence counterclockwise along the 15-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC

to the point of beginning.

Area K. That airspace extending upward from 8,000 feet MSL to

and including 10,000 feet MSL beginning at the intersection of the

20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the Phoenix VORTAC

037 deg.T(025 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.41'58"N., long.

111 deg.43'47"W.), thence northeast along the Phoenix VORTAC

037 deg.T(025 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 037 deg.T(025 deg.M) radial and the 25-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.45'58"N., long. 111 deg.40'10"W.),

thence clockwise along the 25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC to the

intersection of the 25-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC and the

Phoenix VORTAC 127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial (lat. 33 deg.10'52"N.,

long. 111 deg.34'25"W.), thence northwest along the Phoenix VORTAC

127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial to the intersection of the Phoenix

VORTAC 127 deg.T(115 deg.M) radial and the 20-mile arc of the

Phoenix VORTAC (lat. 33 deg.13'54"N., long. 111 deg.39'10"W.),

thence counterclockwise along the 20-mile arc of the Phoenix VORTAC

to the point of beginning.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 12, 1997.

Reginald C. Matthews,

Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Note: The following appendix will not appear in the Code of

Federal Regulations.

[[Page 44602]]

Appendix--Phoenix Class B Airspace Area

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP22AU97.012

[FR Doc. 97-22106 Filed 8-21-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-C