Proposed Rule2021-21860
Proposed Establishment of Restricted Area R-2511; Trona, CA
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 18, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to establish restricted area R-2511 in the vicinity of Trona, CA in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake, CA. The proposed restricted area is necessary to segregate the testing and evaluation of hazardous weapons systems, and other unproven aviation platforms in the early development cycle from non-participating aircraft.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 198 (Monday, October 18, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 198 (Monday, October 18, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57611-57612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21860]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 73
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0650; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-11]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Establishment of Restricted Area R-2511; Trona, CA
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish restricted area R-2511 in
the vicinity of Trona, CA in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center
Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake, CA. The proposed restricted
area is necessary to segregate the testing and evaluation of hazardous
weapons systems, and other unproven aviation platforms in the early
development cycle from non-participating aircraft.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 2, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001;
telephone: 1 (800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA
Docket No. FAA-2021-0650; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-11 at the
beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the
internet at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McMullin, Rules and
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration,
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
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 would establish restricted area airspace in the
vicinity of Trona, CA to contain activities deemed hazardous to non-
participating aircraft.
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 (FAA Docket No.
FAA-2021-0650; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-11) and be submitted in
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the
internet at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
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 FAA Docket No. FAA-2021-0650; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-11.'' The
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
The FAA will consider all communications received on or before the
specified comment closing date before taking action on the proposed
rule. The FAA may change the proposal contained in this action in light
of comments received. All comments submitted will be available for
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of NPRM
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
internet at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at <a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/">https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/</a>.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and
[[Page 57612]]
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 office of the Western Service Center,
Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.
Background
The NAWCWD is requesting R-2511 for free flight, weapons systems
transitioning from launch areas within R-2505 to target areas within R-
2524, and from launch areas within R-2524 to target areas within R-
2505. Restricted area R-2511 would replace an existing Controlled
Firing Area (CFA) that no longer meets NAWCWD's operational
requirements.
The NAWCWD has conducted operations within the CFA since 1995 with
an excellent safety record and no history of operational incidents.
However, in the future, the NAWCWD requires a space in which it may
launch weapons that will have varying flight altitudes. The weapons
will either climb to establish a look-down aspect or descend on their
path toward their target. Additionally, the weapons' altitude is
expected to vary some, based on the shooter aircraft's launch
tolerances and day-of weather conditions. The FAA typically only
considers CFAs when necessary to accommodate activities that are
capable of being immediately suspended as the CFA user is required to
immediately cease any hazardous activity upon observation or
notification that a non-participating aircraft is approaching the area.
As such, the CFA does not practically accommodate NAWCWD's needs.
Accordingly, a restricted area is being pursued.
The FAA completed an aeronautical study in April 2021. The study
focused on potential impacts to the National Airspace System (NAS) and
its users. The FAA utilized the Performance Data Analysis and Reporting
System (PDARS) to study historical traffic and flight track data to
show volume, location, and type of traffic that utilized the proposed
volume of airspace. That data revealed that there would be little to no
impact to nearby airports, or non-participating traffic transitioning
the proposed Special Use Airspace.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 to establish
restricted area R-2511 in the vicinity of Trona, CA. The FAA is
proposing this action at the request of NAWCWD at China Lake, CA. The
full legal description is in ``The Proposed Amendment'' section of this
NPRM.
R-2511: The FAA would establish restricted area R-2511 utilizing
the current boundaries of the existing CFA. The altitudes would be from
6,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), to but not including 20,000 feet MSL.
R-2511 would be used no more than 36 times per year, between the hours
of 0700-1700 local time, Monday-Friday, and activated by NOTAM at least
7 days in advance. Each day would consist of no more than two 2-hour
blocks when activated.
Regulatory Notices and Analyses
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
Department of Transportation (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 proposed 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.
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 73
Airspace, Prohibited areas, Restricted areas.
The Proposed Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:
PART 73--SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE
0
1. The authority citation for part 73 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. 73.25 California.
0
2. Section 73.25 is amended by adding the entry for R-2511 Trona, CA to
read as follows:
* * * * *
R-2511 Trona, CA [New]
Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 35[deg]37'30'' N; long.
117[deg]35'33'' W; to lat. 35[deg]40'30'' N; long. 117[deg]25'03''
W; to lat. 35[deg]36'00'' N; long. 117[deg]16'55'' W; to lat.
35[deg]36'00'' N; long. 117[deg]26'03'' W; to lat. 35[deg]27'40'' N;
long. 117[deg]26'03'' W; to the point of beginning.
Designated Altitudes. 6,000 feet MSL, to but not including, FL
200.
Time of Designation. Intermittent, 0700-1700 local time, Monday-
Friday, by NOTAM 7 days in advance.
Controlling Agency. FAA, Joshua Control Facility, Edwards Air
Force Base, CA.
Using Agency. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. China
Lake, CA.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2021.
Michael R. Beckles,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-21860 Filed 10-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 18, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.