Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Puerto Rico, PR

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-ASO-17]

Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Puerto Rico, PR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Puerto Rico,

PR. This proposal would increase the size of the Puerto Rico, PR, Class

E airspace area to include the airspace within Warning Areas W-370A, W-

373A and W-373C, in order to facilitate the handling, reduce the

coordination and increase the safety of United States military aircraft

returning to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station below 5,500 feet mean sea

level (MSL), which is the floor of the overlying San Juan Low Class E

airspace area, in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) from the

Warning Areas.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 27, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal

Aviation Administration, Docket No. 99-ASO-17, Manager, Airspace

Branch, ASO-520, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320.

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

Counsel for Southern Region, Room 550, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College

Park, Georgia 30337, telephone (404) 305-5586.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy B. Shelton, Manager, Airspace

Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box

20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-5586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

mined in the Office of the Regional

Counsel for Southern Region, Room 550, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College

Park, Georgia 30337, telephone (404) 305-5586.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy B. Shelton, Manager, Airspace

Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box

20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-5586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed

rulemaking by submitting such written data, views or arguments as they

may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the

views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing

reasonsed regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are

specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic,

environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.

Communications should identify the airspace docket number and be

submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing

the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this action must

submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which

the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 99-

ASO-17.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the

commenter. All communications received before the specified closing

date for comments will be considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in

light of the comments received. All comments submitted will be

available for examination in the Office of the Regional Counsel for

Southern Region, Room 550, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia

30337, both before and after the closing date for comments. A report

summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel

concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

received. All comments submitted will be

available for examination in the Office of the Regional Counsel for

Southern Region, Room 550, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia

30337, both before and after the closing date for comments. A report

summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel

concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration,

Manager, Airspace Branch, ASO-520, Air Traffic Division, P.O. Box

20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320. Communications must identify the docket

number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing

list for future NPRMs should also request a copy of Advisory Circular

No. 11-2A which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is considering an amendment to part 71 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 71) to amend Class E airspace at

Puerto Rico, PR. This proposal would increase the size of the Puerto

Rico, PR, Class E airspace areas to include the airspace within Warning

Areas W-370A, W-373A and W-373C, in order to facilitate the handling,

reduce the coordination and increase the safety of United States

military aircraft returning to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station below

5,500 MSL, which is the floor of the overlying San Juan Low Class E

airspace area, in IMC from the Warning Areas. Class E airspace

designations for airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet or more

above the surface are published in Paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9G

dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 1999, which is

incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace

designation listed in this document would be published subsequently in

the Order

from the Warning Areas. Class E airspace

designations for airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet or more

above the surface are published in Paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9G

dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 1999, which is

incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace

designation listed in this document would be published subsequently in

the Order.

The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves

an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and

routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current.

It, therefore, (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, when promulgated, 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).

The Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 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 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 Federal

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9G, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16,

1999, is amended as follows:

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.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

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

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9G, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16,

1999, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700

feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

ASO PR E5 Puerto Rico, PR [Revised]

San Juan Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, PR

(Lat. 18 deg.27'41'' N., long. 66 deg.05'89'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from 1200 feet or more above the

surface of the earth beginning at lat. 18 deg.50' '' N., long.

68 deg.00' '' W.; to lat. 18 deg.45'23'' N., long. 66 deg.54'58''

W.; to lat. 18 deg.33' N., long. 64 deg.22' W.; to lat. 17 deg.20'

N., long. 64 deg.22' W.; to lat. 17 deg.29' N., long. 64 deg.54' W.;

to lat. 17 deg.29'53'' N., long. 64 deg.55'39'' W.; to lat.

17 deg.29'53'' N., long. 66 deg.18'20'' W.; to lat. 17 deg.44'53''

N., long. 66 deg.16'49'' W.; to lat. 17 deg.47'16'' N., long.

66 deg.16'56'' W.; to lat. 17 deg.42' N., long. 68 deg.00' W.; to

the point of beginning; excluding that airspace within Warning Area

W-371; and that airspace extending upward from 2,700 feet above the

surface of the earth beginning at lat. 18 deg.33' '' N., long.

64 deg.22' W.; to lat. 18 deg.25'23'' N., long. 62 deg.52' W.; to

lat. 17 deg.47' N., long. 62 deg.23' W.; to lat. 17 deg.22' N.,

long. 62 deg.59' W.; to lat. 16 deg.58' N., long. 63 deg.00' W.; to

lat. 17 deg.20' N., long. 64 deg.22' W.; to the point of beginning;

and that airspace extending upward from 2,700 feet above the surface

of the earth beginning at lat. 18 deg.45'23'' N., long.

66 deg.54'58'' W.; to lat. 19 deg.00' N., long. 66 deg.10' W.; to

lat. 19 deg.00' N., long. 5 deg.45' W.; to lat. 18 deg.45' N., long.

64 deg.22' W.; to lat. 18 deg.33' N., long