Amendment to Class E Airspace; Rockland, ME

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-ANE-95]

Amendment to Class E Airspace; Rockland, ME

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action revises the Class E airspace area at Rockland, ME

(KRKD) due to the relocation of the Sprucehead Non-Directional Beacon

(NDB) and to provide adequate controlled airspace for two new standard

instrument approaches to the Rockland, Knox County Regional Airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, January 28, 1999.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or

before January 25, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule to: Manager, Airspace Branch, ANE-

520, Federal Aviation Administration, Docket No. 98-ANE-95, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-

7520; fax (781) 238-7596. Comments may also be sent electronically via

the internet to the following address: ``[email protected]''

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

Regional Counsel, New England Region, ANE-7, Room 401, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-7050;

fax (781) 238-7055.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business

hours in the Air Traffic Division, Room 408, by contacting the Manager,

Operations Branch at the first address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David T. Bayley, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Branch, ANE-520.3,

Federal Aviation Administration, 12 New England Executive Park,

Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-7523; fax (781) 238-

7596.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This action revised the Class E airspace in the vicinity of the

Rockland, Knox County Regional Airport, Rockland, Maine. This action is

prompted by the relocation of the Sprucehead Non-Directional Beacon

(NDB) and by the addition of two new standard instrument approach

procedures based on the new location of the NDB, the R/W 3 and R/W 31

NDB approaches. The NDB will be located north of its former location,

and closer to the airport. The effect of these revisions will be to

eliminate the extension of controlled airspace south-southwest of the

airport, but expand slightly the basic radius of controlled airspace in

the vicinity of the airport. Class E airspace designations for airspace

areas extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth are

published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9F, dated September 10,

1998, and effective September 16, 1998, which is incorporated by

reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in

this document will 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, issues it as a direct final rule.

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.

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 direct final rule, and was

not preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, 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-ANE-95.'' 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

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

discussed in the preamble, I certify that this regulation (1) is not a

``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is

not ``significant rule'' under Department of Transportation (DOT)

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);

and (3) does not warrant preparation of a Regulatory Evaluation as

these routine matters will only affect air traffic procedures and air

navigation. It is certified that these proposed rules will not have

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

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

Aviation Administration amends part 71

[[Page 71219]]

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.

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

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16,

1998, is amended as follows:

Subpart E--Class E Airspace

* * * * *

Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700

feet or more above the surface of the earth

* * * * *

ANE ME E5 Rockland, ME [Revised]

Rockland, Knox County Regional Airport, ME

(Lat. 44 deg.03'37'' N, long. 69 deg.05'59'' W)

Sprucehead NDB

(Lat. 44 deg.03'01'' N, long. 69 deg.06'18'' W)

That airpace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface

within a 9-mile radius of the Knox County Regional Airport.

* * * * *

Issued in Burlington, MA, on December 11, 1998.

Bill G. Peacock,

Manager, Air Traffic Division, New England Region.

[FR Doc. 98-34166 Filed 12-23-98; 8:45 am]

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