Revision of Class E Airspace, San Diego, North Island NAS, CA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AWP-20]

Revision of Class E Airspace, San Diego, North Island NAS, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action will amend the effective hours of the Class E

airspace extension for San Diego, North Island Naval Air Station, (NZY)

Halsey Field, CA. In April of 1998 the U.S. Navy reduced the hours of

operation of the Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at NZY. A

separate airspace docket has been published in the Federal Register

amending the effective hours of the NZY Class D airspace surface area.

The Class E airspace extension operates in conjunction with the Class D

airspace surface area. The reduction of the ATCT hours of operation has

made this action necessary. The intended effect of this action is to

modify the effective hours of the NZY Class E airspace extension in the

legal description of the controlled airspace. This action does not

involve a change in the dimensions or operating requirements of that

airspace containing Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at NZY.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC December 3, 1998. Comment date: Comments for

inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before September

30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the direct final rule in triplicate to:

Federal Aviation Administration, Attn: Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-

520, Docket No. 98-AWP-20, Air Traffic Division, P.O. Box 92007,

Worldway Postal Center, Los Angeles, California 90009.

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

Chief Counsel, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration,

Room 6007, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business

hours at the Office of the Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic

Division at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Debra Trindle, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Specialist, AWP-520,

Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation

Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261, telephone (310) 725-6613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action will amend the airspace legal

description to reflect the new operating hours of the Class E arrival

extension of NZY. The 1998 reduction of the ATCT hours of operation has

made this action necessary. The intended effect of this action is to

modify the hours of the NZY Class E airspace area in the legal

description of the controlled airspace. Class E airspace arrival

extensions are published in Paragraph 6004 of FAA Order 7400.9D dated

September 10,

[[Page 46167]]

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 this Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse

or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule.

Unless a written adverse or negative comment, or a written notice of

intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is received within the

comment period, the regulation will become effective on the date

specified above. After the close of the comment period, the FAA will

publish a document in the Federal Register indicating that no adverse

or negative comments were received and confirming the date on which the

final rule will become effective. If the FAA does receive, within the

comment period, an adverse or negative comment, or written notice of

intent to submit such a comment, a document withdrawing the direct

final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a notice of

proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not

preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on

this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by

submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire.

Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted

in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All

communications received on or before the closing date for comments will

be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of

the comments received. Factual information that supports the

commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating

the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional

rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might

suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be

available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the

Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this

action will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket No. 98-AWP-20.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct

effects on the States, on the relationship between the national

government and the States, or on the distribution of power and

responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final

rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and

unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons

discussed in the preamble, this regulation only involves an established

body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments

are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this

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 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 71

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND

CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS.

1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 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; 14 CFR 11.69.

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 6004 Class E airspace areas designated as an extension

to a Class D surface area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4 San Diego, North Island NAS, CA [Revised]

San Diego, North Island NAS (Halsey Field), CA

(Lat. 32 deg.41'57'' N, long. 117 deg.12'55'' W)

North Island TACAN

(Lat. 32 deg.42'09'' N, long. 117 deg.12'58'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within the North

Island TACAN 8.7-mile radius, extending clockwise from a line 1.8

miles north of and parallel to the North Island TACAN 120 deg.

radial clockwise to the 162 deg. radial, excluding the airspace

within the San Diego, CA, Class B airspace area and the portion

within the Imperial Beach NOLF, CA, Class D airspace area. This

Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and

times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective

date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the

Airport/Facility Directory.

Issued in Los Angeles, California, on August 19, 1998.

Dawna Vicars,

Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific Region.

[FR Doc. 98-23367 Filed 8-28-98; 8:45 am]

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