[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67886-67889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26608]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0808; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASW-12]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Amendment of Class D Airspace and Amendment and
Revocation of the Class E Airspace; Multiple Texas Towns
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class D airspace at Conroe-North
Houston Regional Airport, Conroe, TX; Scholes International Airport at
Galveston, Galveston, TX; and Sugar Land Regional Airport, Houston, TX;
amend Class E surface airspace at Conroe-North Houston Regional
Airport, Scholes International Airport at Galveston, and Sugar Land
Regional Airport; revoke the Class E airspace designated as an
extension to a Class E surface area at Draughon-Miller Central Texas
Regional Airport, Temple, TX; amend the Class E airspace extending
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Chambers County Airport,
Anahuac, TX; Scholes International Airport at Galveston; Conroe-North
Houston Regional Airport; Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, Angleton/
Lake Jackson, TX; and Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport;
and remove Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the
surface at Wood No. 2 Airport, Brookshire, TX, and Covey Trails
Airport, Fulshear, TX, which are contained within the Houston, TX,
airspace legal description. The FAA is proposing this action as the
result of the decommissioning of the Hobby and Temple VHF
omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aids, which provided navigation
information for the instrument procedures at these airports, as part of
the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic
coordinates of Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, Chambers County
Airport, and Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, and the names of
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, Scholes International Airport at
Galveston, and Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport would also be updated
to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 27, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; telephone
(202) 366-9826, or (800) 647-5527. You must identify FAA Docket No.
FAA-2019-0808; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASW-12, at the beginning of your
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov. You may review the public docket containing the
proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in
the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except federal holidays.
FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of FAA Order 7400.11D at NARA, email [email protected]
or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII,
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's
authority. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described
in Subtitle VII, Part A,
[[Page 67887]]
Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the FAA is charged with
prescribing regulations to assign the use of airspace necessary to
ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This
regulation is within the scope of that authority as it would amend
Class D airspace at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, Conroe, TX;
Scholes International Airport at Galveston, Galveston, TX; and Sugar
Land Regional Airport, Houston, TX; amend Class E surface airspace at
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, Scholes International Airport at
Galveston, and Sugar Land Regional Airport; revoke the Class E airspace
designated as an extension to a Class E surface area at Draughon-Miller
Central Texas Regional Airport, Temple, TX; amend the Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Chambers County
Airport, Anahuac, TX; Scholes International Airport at Galveston;
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport; Texas Gulf Coast Regional
Airport, Angleton/Lake Jackson, TX; and Draughon-Miller Central Texas
Regional Airport; and remove Class E airspace extending upward from 700
feet above the surface at Wood No. 2 Airport, Brookshire, TX, and Covey
Trails Airport, Fulshear, TX, to support instrument flight rule
operations at these airports.
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
reasoned 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 both docket numbers and be submitted in
triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2019-0808/
Airspace Docket No. 19-ASW-12.'' 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 notice may be changed in light of the
comments received. A report summarizing each substantive public contact
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of NPRMs
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the address and phone number)
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal
business hours at the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic
Organization, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, 10101
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective
September 15, 2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D lists
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and
reporting points.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by:
Amending the Class D airspace to within a 4.8-mile radius
(increased from a 4.1-mile radius) of Conroe-North Houston Regional
Airport, Conroe, TX; removing the Navasota VORTAC and Humble VORTAC and
associated exclusion area from the airspace legal description; amending
the exclusion area to ``. . . excluding that airspace from lat.
30[deg]25'24'' N, long. 95[deg]22'11'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'32'' N,
long. 95[deg]22'51'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'12'' N, long. 95[deg]19'51''
W''; updating the name and geographic coordinates of Conroe-North
Houston Regional Airport (previously Lone Star Executive Airport) to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and replacing the
outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart Supplement'';
Amending the Class D airspace at Scholes International Airport at
Galveston (previously Scholes INTL at Galveston), Galveston, TX, by
updating the name of the airport to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautical database; correcting the header of the airspace legal
description from ``Galveston, Galveston, TX'' to ``Galveston, TX''; and
replacing the outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart
Supplement'';
Amending the Class D airspace to within a 4.2-mile radius
(decreased from a 5.8-mile radius) of Sugar Land Regional Airport,
Houston, TX; correcting the header of the airspace legal description
from ``Houston Sugar Land, TX'' to ``Houston, TX'' to coincide with the
FAA's aeronautical database; removing the city associated with the
airport from the airspace legal description to comply with FAA Order
7400.2M, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters; and removing
``(previously called Airport/Facility Directory)'' as it is no longer
needed;
Amending the Class E surface airspace to within a 4.8-mile radius
(increased from a 4.1-mile radius) of Conroe-North Houston Regional
Airport, Conroe, TX; removing the Navasota VORTAC and Humble VORTAC and
associated exclusion area from the airspace legal description; amending
the exclusion area to ``. . . excluding that airspace from lat.
30[deg]25'24'' N, long. 95[deg]22'11'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'32'' N,
long. 95[deg]22'51'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'12'' N, long. 95[deg]19'51''
W''; updating the name and geographic coordinates of Conroe-North
Houston Regional Airport (previously Lone Star Executive Airport) to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and replacing the
outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart Supplement'';
Amending the Class E surface airspace at Scholes International
Airport at Galveston (previously Scholes INTL at Galveston), Galveston,
TX, by updating the name of the airport to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautical database; and replacing the outdated term ``Airport/
Facility Directory'' with ``Chart Supplement'';
Amending the Class E surface airspace to within a 4.2-mile radius
(decreased from a 5.8-mile radius) of Sugar Land Regional Airport,
Houston, TX; correcting the header of the airspace legal description
from ``Houston Sugar Land, TX'' to ``Houston, TX'' to coincide with the
FAA's aeronautical database; removing the city associated with the
airport from the airspace legal description to comply with FAA Order
7400.2M,; and removing ``(previously
[[Page 67888]]
called Airport/Facility Directory)'' as it is no longer needed;
Amending the Class E surface airspace at Draughon-Miller Central
Texas Regional Airport, Temple, TX, by removing the city associated
with the airport in the airspace legal description to comply with FAA
Order 7400.2M;
Removing the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a
Class E surface area at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport,
Temple, TX, as it is no longer needed;
Amending the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface to within a 6.1-mile radius (decreased from a 6.3-
mile radius) at Chambers County Airport, Anahuac, TX; removing the
Anahuac RBN and associated extension from the airspace legal
description; and updating the geographic coordinates of the airport to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;
Amending the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface by removing the Chambers County Airport, Anahuac, TX,
and associated exclusion area from the Houston, TX, airspace legal
description as it is no longer needed; to within a 6.6-mile radius
(decreased from a 7.6-mile radius) of Scholes International Airport at
Galveston, Galveston, TX, which is contained within the Houston, TX,
airspace legal description; removing the city associated with the
Scholes International Airport from the airspace legal description to
comply with FAA Order 7400.2M; removing Woods No. 2 Airport,
Brookshire, TX, and Covey Trails Airport, Fulshear, TX, which are
contained within the Houston, TX, airspace legal description from the
Houston, TX airspace legal description, and revoking the associated
Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
at these airports as the instrument procedures at these airports have
been cancelled and the airspace is no longer required; to within a 7.3-
mile radius (increased from a 6.6-mile radius) of Conroe-North Houston
Regional Airport, Conroe, TX, which is contained within the Houston,
TX, airspace legal description; and amending the airspace boundary from
``. . . thence from lat. 29[deg]17'04'' N, long. 95[deg]00'13'' W. . .
.'' to ``. . . thence from lat. 29[deg]16'48'' N, long. 94[deg]59'06''
W. . .''; updating the names of Scholes International Airport at
Galveston (previously Scholes International at Galveston) and Conroe-
North Houston Regional Airport (previously Lone Star Executive Airport)
to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and updating the
geographic coordinates of Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;
Amending the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface to within a 6.6-mile radius (decreased from a 6.7-
mile radius) of Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, Angleton/Lake
Jackson, TX; updating the header of the airspace legal description from
``Lake Jackson, TX'' to ``Angleton/Lake Jackson, TX'' to coincide with
the FAA's aeronautical database; removing the city associated with the
airport from the airspace legal description to comply with FAA Order
7400.2M; and updating the name and geographic coordinates of the Texas
Gulf Coast Regional Airport (previously Brazoria County Airport) to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;
And amending the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700
feet above the surface at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional
Airport, Temple, TX, by removing the city associated with the airport
to comply with FAA Order 7400.2M; updating the name of the Draughon-
Miller Central Texas Regional: RWY 15-LOC (previously Draughon-Miller
Central Texas Regional Localizer) to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautical database; removing the Temple VOR and associated extension
from the airspace legal description; removing the extension southwest
of the airport as it is no longer needed; and amending the extension
northwest of the airport to within 4 miles either side of the 343[deg]
(previously 336[deg]) bearing of the Draughon-Miller Central Texas
Regional: RWY 15-LOC extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 14.2 miles
(previously 14.4 miles) northwest of the airport.
These actions are the result of airspace reviews caused by the
decommissioning of the Hobby and Temple VORs, which provided navigation
information for the instrument procedures at these airports, as part of
the VOR MON Program.
Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraph
5000, 6002, 6004 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11D, dated
August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which is incorporated
by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and E airspace designations
listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.
FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is
published yearly and effective on September 15.
Regulatory Notices and Analyses
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, is
non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative
comments. 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, would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal
Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:
PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O.
10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.
Sec. 71.1 [Amended]
0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order
7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8,
2019, and effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
ASW TX D Conroe, TX [Amended]
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, TX
(Lat. 30[deg]21'12'' N, long. 95[deg]24'54'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,700 feet MSL within a 4.8-mile radius of Conroe-North Houston
Regional Airport, excluding that airspace from lat. 30[deg]25'24''
N, long.
[[Page 67889]]
95[deg]22'11'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'32'' N, long. 95[deg]22'51'' W to
lat. 30[deg]23'12'' N, long. 95[deg]19'51'' W. This Class D airspace
area is effective during the specific dates and times established in
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will
thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
ASW TX D Galveston, TX [Amended]
Scholes International Airport at Galveston, TX
(Lat. 29[deg]15'55'' N, long. 94[deg]51'38'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface up to but not
including 2,500 feet MSL within a 4.1-mile radius of Scholes
International Airport at Galveston. This Class D airspace area is
effective during the specific dates and times established in advance
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter
be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
ASW TX D Houston, TX [Amended]
Sugar Land Regional Airport, TX
(Lat. 29[deg]37'20'' N, long. 95[deg]39'24'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of Sugar Land Regional
Airport. This Class D airspace area is effective during the specific
dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in
the Chart Supplement.
Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.
* * * * *
ASW TX E2 Conroe, TX [Amended]
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, TX
(Lat. 30[deg]21'12'' N, long. 95[deg]24'54'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,700 feet MSL within a 4.8-mile radius of Conroe-North Houston
Regional Airport, excluding that airspace from lat. 30[deg]25'24''
N, long. 95[deg]22'11'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'32'' N, long.
95[deg]22'51'' W to lat. 30[deg]23'12'' N, long. 95[deg]19'51'' W.
This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates
and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in
the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
ASW TX E2 Galveston, TX [Amended]
Scholes International Airport at Galveston, TX
(Lat. 29[deg]15'55'' N, long. 94[deg]51'38'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface up to but not
including 2,500 feet MSL within a 4.1-mile radius of Scholes
International Airport at Galveston. This Class E airspace area is
effective during the specific dates and times established in advance
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter
be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
ASW TX E2 Houston, TX [Amended]
Sugar Land Regional Airport, TX
(Lat. 29[deg]37'20'' N, long. 95[deg]39'24'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of Sugar Land Regional
Airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific
dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in
the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
ASW TX E2 Temple, TX [Amended]
Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport, TX
(Lat. 31[deg]09'07'' N, long. 97[deg]24'28''W)
Within a 4.2-mile radius of Draughon-Miller Central Texas
Regional Airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to
Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously
published in the Chart Supplement.
Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.
* * * * *
ASW TX E4 Temple, TX [Removed]
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
ASW TX E5 Anahuac, TX [Amended]
Chambers County Airport, TX
(Lat. 29[deg]46'11'' N, long. 94[deg]39'49'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.1-mile radius of Chambers County Airport.
* * * * *
ASW TX E5 Houston, TX [Amended]
Point of Origin
(Lat. 30[deg]35'01'' N, long. 95[deg]28'01'' W)
Scholes International Airport at Galveston, TX
(Lat. 29[deg]15'55'' N, long. 94[deg]51'38'' W)
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, TX
(Lat. 30[deg]21'12'' N, long. 95[deg]24'54'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within an area bounded by a line beginning at the Point of Origin to
lat. 29[deg]45'00'' N, long. 94[deg]44'01'' W; thence from lat.
29[deg]45'00'' N, long. 94[deg]44'01'' W to a point of tangency with
the east arc of a 6.6-mile radius of Scholes International Airport
at Galveston, and within a 6.6-mile radius of Scholes International
Airport at Galveston; thence from lat. 29[deg]16'48'' N, long.
94[deg]59'06'' W; to lat. 29[deg]30'01'' N, long. 95[deg]54'01'' W;
to lat. 30[deg]26'01'' N, long. 95[deg]42'01'' W; to the Point of
Origin, and within a 7.3-mile radius of Conroe-North Houston
Regional Airport.
* * * * *
ASW TX E5 Angleton/Lake Jackson, TX [Amended]
Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, TX
(Lat. 29[deg]06'31'' N, long. 95[deg]27'44'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.6-mile radius of Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport.
* * * * *
ASW TX E5 Temple, TX [Amended]
Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport, TX
(Lat. 31[deg]09'07'' N, long. 97[deg]24'28'' W)
Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional: RWY 15-LOC
(Lat. 31[deg]08'20'' N, long. 97[deg]24'16'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.7-mile radius of Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional
Airport, and within 4 miles either side of the 343[deg] bearing of
the Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional: RWY 15-LOC extending
from the 6.7-mile radius to 14.2 miles northwest of the airport.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 4, 2019.
Steve Szukala,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-26608 Filed 12-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P