Correction of Class D Airspace, Bullhead City, AZ

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-AWP-8]

Correction of Class D Airspace, Bullhead City, AZ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action will correct the Class D airspace ceiling at

Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, Bullhead City, AZ.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC September 9, 1999. Comment date: Comments for

inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before August 27,

1999.

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

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

520, Docket No. 99-AWP-8, 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: Larry Tonish, Air Traffic Division,

Airspace Specialist, AWP-520.1, Western-Pacific Region, Federal

Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California

90261, telephone (310) 725-6539.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The intended effect of this action is to

correct the Class D airspace area ceiling associated with Laughlin/

Bullhead International Airport. On January 4, 1996, the Class D

airspace ceiling of Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport was

published and chartered in error as 2,500 feet Above Ground Level

(AGL). FAA Order 7400.9F requires all altitudes to be published in feet

above Mean Sea Level (MSL). The corrected altitude of 3200 feet MSL

will not change the boundaries or volume of Class D airspace area

associated with Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport but will only

correct the ceiling of existing Class D airspace area from an

[[Page 40746]]

AGL height to reflect the same altitude using MSL. Class D airspace

areas are published in paragraph 5000 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 D airspace area

designation listed in this document would be subsequently corrected 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.

A substantial number of previous opportunities provided to the public

to comment on essentially 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, 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. 99-AWP-8.'' 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 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 [Correction]

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

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and

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

1998, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 500. Class D Airspace

* * * * *

AWP AZ D Bullhead City, AZ [Correction]

Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, AZ

(Lat. 35 deg.09'27'' N, long. 114 deg.33'34'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including

3,200 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of the Laughlin/Bullhead

International Airport; excluding that airspace west of a line 1.8

miles west of and parallel to the north/south runway. This Class D

airspace area is effective during the specific dates and time

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 June 17, 1999.

Charles A. Ullman,

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

[FR Doc. 99-17173 Filed 7-27-99; 8:45 am]

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