90 FR 74 pgs. 16460-16461 - Establishment of Class E Airspace at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY
Type: RULEVolume: 90Number: 74Pages: 16460 - 16461
Pages: 16460, 16461Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2024-2737; Airspace Docket No. 24-ANM-115]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-06605 Filed 4-17-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2737; Airspace Docket No. 24-ANM-115]
RIN 2120-AA66
Establishment of Class E Airspace at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY, to support the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. This airspace rule-making action enhances the safety and efficiency of IFR arrivals and departures by providing controlled airspace for instrument procedures.
DATES:
Effective date 0901 UTC, June 12, 2025. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.
ADDRESSES:
A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Keith T. Adams, Federal Aviation Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2428.
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, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of the 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 establishes Class E airspace to support IFR operations at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. FAA-2024-2737 in the Federal Register (90 FR 5671; January 17, 2025), proposing to establish Class E airspace at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two comments were received, both of which were in favor of the Class E airspace proposal.
Differences From the NPRM
[top] Upon further evaluation, the FAA has determined that the existing Denver En Route Domestic Class E airspace, which begins at 1,200 feet above the surface, sufficiently supports the transitional Class E airspace requirement needed for IFR operations at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport. As a result, the proposed second layer of Class E airspace extending from 1,200 feet above the surface will not be established as that portion of the airspace was already designated as Class E airspace. Instead, this action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth.
Additionally, the FAA has updated the Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport legal description in its database after publication of the NPRM. To be consistent with that updated legal description, the airport reference point in this Final Rule is amended to read lat. 41°09'09? N, long. 104°08'05? W. As this is a minor administrative change, it is implemented in this action.
Incorporation by Reference
Class E5 airspace areas are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11J is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.
FAA Order JO 7400.11J lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.
The Rule
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by establishing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, Pine Bluffs, WY, which is transitioning from VFR to IFR operations due to the development of instrument procedures.
To support this effort, Class E airspace is established within a 7-mile radius of the airport, within 2.1 miles either side of the airport's 090° bearing extending 9.5 mile east, and within 2.1 miles either side of the airport's 270° bearing extending 12.2 miles west. This transitional Class E airspace supports IFR arrival and departure procedures within controlled airspace.
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. 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 only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, "Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures," paragraph 5-6.5.a. This airspace action is not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment.
Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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
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.
§?71.1 [Amended]
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
ANM WY E5 Pine Bluffs, WY [New]
Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, WY
(lat. 41°09'09? N, long. 104°08'05? W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7-mile radius of the airport, within 2.1 miles either side of the airport's 090° bearing extending 9.5 mile east, within 2.1 miles either side of the airport's 270° bearing extending 12.2 miles west of Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport, WY.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on April 14, 2025.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-06605 Filed 4-17-25; 8:45 am]
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