Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; St. Paul, MN

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AGL-57]

Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; St. Paul, MN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to establish Class E airspace at St.

Paul, MN. An airspace review for St. Paul, Downtown Holman Field, MN,

indicates the need for surface area controlled airspace during periods

when the control tower is closed. The surface area would provide a

safer operating environment for business/corporate turbo jet and turbo

prop aircraft which operate into and out of the airport when the

control tower is closed. The airport meets the minimum communications

and weather observation and reporting requirements. Controlled airspace

extending upward from the surface is needed to contain aircraft

executing instrument approach procedures.

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

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

Aviation Administration, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, AGL-7,

Rules Docket No.

97-AGL-57, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018.

The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant

Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue,

Des Plaines, Illinois. An informal docket may also be examined during

normal business hours at the Air Traffic Division, Operations Branch,

Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michelle M. Behm, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Branch, AGL-520,

Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois 60018, telephone (847) 294-7568.

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. 97-

AGL-57.'' 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, FAA, Great Lakes Region, Office of

the Assistant Chief Counsel, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois, 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-230,

800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling

(202) 267-3484. 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 14 CFR part 71 to establish

Class E airspace at St. Paul, MN, to accommodate aircraft executing the

published instrument approach procedures at St. Paul, Downtown Holman

Field, during periods when the control tower is closed. The airport

meets the minimum communications and weather observation and reporting

requirements for a surface area. Controlled airspace extending upward

from the surface is needed to contain aircraft executing instrument

approach procedures. The area would be depicted on appropriate

aeronautical charts. Class E airspace designations for airspace areas

designated as a surface area for an airport are published in paragraph

6002 of FAA Order 7400.9E, dated September 10, 1997, and effective

September 16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1.

The Class E airspace designation listed in this document would be

published subsequently in the Order.

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.

Therefore, this proposed regulation--(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 will not

have a significant economic impact

[[Page 60462]]

on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the

Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal

Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 71 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) as follows:

PART 71--[AMENDED]

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 the Federal

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16,

1997, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace areas designated as a surface area

for an airport.

* * * * *

AGL MN E2 St. Paul, MN [New]

St. Paul, Downtown Holman Field, MN

[Lat. 44 deg.56'04'' N, long. 93 deg.03'36'' W)

South St. Paul Municipal Richard E. Fleming Field, MN

(Lat. 44 deg.51'26'' N, long. 93 deg.01'59'' W)

Within a 4.1-mile radius of the St. Paul, Downtown Holman Field,

excluding that airspace within a 1-mile radius of South St. Paul

Municipal, Richard E. Fleming Field. This Class E airspace area is

effective during the specific dates and times established in advance

by a Notice to Airmen. The effective dates and times will thereafter

be continuously published in the Airport/Facility Directory.

* * * * *

Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on October 21, 1997.

Maureen Woods,

Manager, Air Traffic Division.

[FR Doc. 97-29570 Filed 11-7-97; 8:45 am]

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