Amendment of Class E Airspace; Colorado Springs, CO

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-ANM-06]

Amendment of Class E Airspace; Colorado Springs, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action changes the name of the VORTAC navigational aid in

the Colorado Springs, CO, Class E3 airspace legal description from

Colorado Springs VORTAC to Black Forest VORTAC. The name change for the

VORTAC is for safety reasons and does not affect the existing

boundaries of the airspace.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, June 18, 1998.

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

before May 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the rule in triplicate to: Manager,

Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, ANM-520, Federal Aviation

Administration, Docket Number 98-ANM-06, 1601 Lind Avenue S.W., Renton,

Washington 98055-4056.

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

Counsel for the Northwest Mountain Region at the same address.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business

hours at the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Ripley, ANM-520.6, Federal

Aviation Administration, Docket No.

[[Page 13780]]

98-ANM-06, 1601 Lind Avenue S.W., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056;

telephone number: (425) 227-2527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment to part 71 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) changes the name of the VORTAC

navigational aid in the Colorado Springs, CO, Class E3 airspace legal

description from Colorado Springs VORTAC to Black Forest VORTAC. The

Colorado Springs VORTAC is located 9 miles north of the City of

Colorado Springs Municipal Airport. The VORTAC name is inconsistent

with current standards which require the off airport navigation aids

not have the airport name for aeronautical safety reasons. The actual

VORTAC name change to Black Forest will be effective April 23, 1998.

This action updates the name in the legal description. The dimensions

and operating requirements of the airspace remain the same.

The area will be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot

reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket area based on North

American Datum 83. Class E airspace designated as an extension to a

Class C surface area are published in Paragraph 6003 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, 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 ADDRESS. All communications received on or

before the closing date for comments will be considered. This rule may

be amended or withdrawn in light of the comments received. Factual

information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions are

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-ANM-06.'' 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, 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) 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, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 71 of

the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.

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 6003 Class E Airspace designated as an extension to a

Class C surface area.

* * * * *

ANM CO E3 Colorado Springs, CO [Revised]

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, CO

(Lat. 38 deg.48'21'' N, long. 104 deg.42'01'' W)

Black Forest VORTAC

(Lat. 38 deg.56'24'' N, long. 104 deg.38'00'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.8 miles

of each side of the Black Forest VORTAC 205 deg. radial extending

from the 5-mile radius of the City of Colorado Springs Municipal

Airport to the VORTAC and within 1.4 miles each side of the Colorado

Springs Runway 17 ILS localizer course extending from the 5-mile

radius of the airport to 7.7 miles north of the airport.

* * * * *

Issued in Seattle, Washington, on March 12, 1998.

Glenn A. Adams III,

Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Northwest Mountain Region.

[FR Doc. 98-7408 Filed 3-20-98; 8:45 am]

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