Revocation of Class D Airspace; Lubbock Reese AFB, TX, and Revision of Class E Airspace; Lubbock, TX

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-ASW-18]

Revocation of Class D Airspace; Lubbock Reese AFB, TX, and

Revision of Class E Airspace; Lubbock, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action revokes the Class D airspace at Lubbock Reese AFB,

TX, and revises the Class E airspace at Lubbock, TX. Reese AFB has

closed and the associated NAVAIDS have been decommissioned; therefore,

Class D and E airspace designated to provide controlled airspace for

terminal instrument operations is no longer required. This action is

intended to revoke Class D airspace at Lubbock Reese AFB, TX, and

revise Class E airspace for aircraft operating under instrument flight

rules (IFR) in the vicinity of Lubbock International Airport, Lubbock,

TX.

DATES: Effective: 0901 UTC, June 18, 1998.

Comment date: Comments must be received on or before April 27,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule in triplicate to Manager, Airspace

Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration,

Southwest Region, Docket No. 98-ASW-18, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0520.

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

Counsel, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601

Meacham Boulevard, Room 663, Fort Worth, TX, between 9:00 AM and 3:00

PM, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An informal docket

may also be examined during normal business hours at the Airspace

Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration,

Southwest Region, Room 414, Fort Worth, TX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donald J. Day, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region,

Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0520, telephone

817-222-5593.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment to 14 CFR Part 71 revokes the

Class D airspace at Lubbock Reese AFB, TX, and revises the Class E

airspace at Lubbock, TX. Reese AFB has closed and the associated

NAVAIDS have been decommissioned; therefore, Class D and E airspace

designated to provide controlled airspace for terminal instrument

operations is no longer required. This action is intended to revoke

Class D airspace at Lubbock Reese AFB, TX, and revise Class E airspace

for aircraft operating under IFR in the vicinity of Lubbock

International Airport, Lubbock, TX. This revocation will avoid

confusion on the part of the pilots flying near the airport and promote

the safe and efficient handling of air traffic in the area. This action

will revoke the Class D airspace at Lubbock Reese AFB, TX, and revise

the Class E airspace at Lubbock International Airport, Lubbock, TX.

Class D airspace designations are published in Paragraph 5000 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

D airspace designation listed in this document will be published

subsequently in the order.

Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraph 6005 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 will be published

subsequently in the 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.

A substantial number of previous opportunities provided to the public

to comment on substantially identical actions have resulted in

negligible adverse comments or objections. 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,

[[Page 11990]]

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 is 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-ASW-18. 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.

Further, the FAA has determined that this regulation is

noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments

and only involves an established body of technical regulations that

require frequent and routine amendments to keep them operationally

current. Therefore, I certify that 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) if promulgated, will not have

a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial

number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act. Since this rule involves routine matters that will

only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it does not

warrant preparation of a regulatory flexibility analysis because the

anticipated impact is minimal.

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 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 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 5000: Class D airspace areas

* * * * *

ASW TX D Lubbock Reese AFB, TX [Revoked]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6005: Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700

feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Lubbock, TX [Revised]

Lubbock VORTAC

(lat. 33 deg.42'18''N., long. 101 deg.54'51''W.)

Lubbock International Airport, TX

(lat. 33 deg.39'49''N., long. 101 deg.49'22''W.)

Lubbi LOM

(lat. 33 deg.39'46''N., long. 101 deg.43'24''W.)

Lubbock ILS Localizer

(lat. 33 deg.38'49''N., long. 101 deg.49'44''W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface

within a 17.4-mile radius of Lubbock VORTAC and within 8 miles east

and 4 miles west of the Lubbock ILS localizer north course extending

from the 17.4-mile radius to 21.7 miles north of the airport and

within 8 miles north and 4 miles south of the 090 deg. bearing from

the Lubbi LOM extending from the 17.4-mile radius to 26 miles east

of the Lubbock International Airport and within 8 miles north and 4

miles south of the 111 deg. radial of the Lubbock VORTAC extending

from the 17.4-mile radius to 26.8 miles southeast of the Lubbock

VORTAC.

* * * * *

Issued in Fort Worth, TX on February 26, 1998.

Albert L. Viselli,

Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region.

[FR Doc. 98-6318 Filed 3-11-98; 8:45 am]

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