Modification of Class E Airspace, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Heliport, Lincoln City, OR

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Heliport, Lincoln City, OR. This action supports the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the heliport.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 207 (Wednesday, October 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 28, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67768-67769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21978]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2026-5064; Airspace Docket No. 25-ANM-134]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class E Airspace, Samaritan North Lincoln 
Hospital Heliport, Lincoln City, OR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital 
Heliport, Lincoln City, OR. This action supports the safety and 
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the heliport.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, December 24, 2026. 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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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. An electronic 
copy of this document may also be downloaded from 
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at <a href="http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/">www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/</a>. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryantjay T. Toves, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3465.

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 modifies Class E airspace to support IFR operations at 
Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Heliport, Lincoln City, OR.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-5064 in the 
Federal Register (91 FR 47156; July 28, 2026), modifying the Class E 
airspace area at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Heliport, Lincoln 
City, OR. Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
FAA. The FAA received three comments and provides the following 
responses.
    One comment opposed the modification on the basis that it converts 
uncontrolled airspace to controlled airspace to support private 
instrument procedures, benefiting commercial enterprises over general 
aviation. The commenter requested that the FAA ``reconsider or narrow 
this amendment''. Although FAA attempts to preserve navigable airspace 
to the maximum extent possible, its internal policies require it to 
designate Class E airspace to accommodate arriving IFR operations.
    Another comment suggested an administrative correction to the city 
name to read, ``Lincoln City, OR.'' The FAA has made that correction.
    The final comment was in support of the modification, but requested 
additional information regarding the FAA's compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act, which is also discussed in the 
``Environmental Review'' section of this document. However, in response 
to this commenter's questions, the FAA determined that this action 
qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) and in accordance with FAA Order 
1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing 
Procedures,'' paragraph B-2.5.a, which applies to ``[r]ulemaking 
actions that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, 
routes, and reporting points''. In compliance with FAA Order 1050.1G, 
the FAA reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a 
normally categorically-excluded action may have a significant 
environmental impact requiring further analysis. It determined that no 
such extraordinary circumstances exist. The FAA also assessed the 
potential for impacts to coastal areas or protected-species habitat and 
determined the impacts would be negligible or non-existent. The FAA 
also assessed the need for coordination under the Coastal Zone 
Management Act and found that no such coordination is required. This is 
an air traffic action, which does not involve land acquisition, 
physical

[[Page 67769]]

ground disturbance, construction, excavation, development activities, 
or discharges to water bodies.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E airspace designations 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 
7400.11M, dated July 30, 2026, and effective September 15, 2026. These 
amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 
7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11M, which lists Class A, B, C, D, and E 
airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points, is 
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying a Class E airspace 
area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at the Samaritan 
North Lincoln Hospital Heliport, Lincoln City, OR, to contain private-
use special instrument flight procedures in support of passenger 
shuttle, medevac, and cargo operations.
    The Class E airspace area for the Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital 
Heliport is modified to cover an area within a 4.7-mile radius of the 
heliport, excluding the airspace east of longitude line 123[deg]55'51'' 
W. It includes an extension oriented from the heliport's 291[deg] 
bearing, expanding 1.2 miles either side extending to the heliport's 
6.3-mile radius. This was created to appropriately contain aircraft the 
COPTER Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS]) 09 
approach and the COPTER RNAV (GPS) 036 approach procedures. 
Furthermore, this airspace area supports instrument arrival operations 
by providing controlled airspace area as aircraft descending below 
1,500 feet above the surface and supports procedural containment during 
the instrument approach procedure's missed approach segment until the 
aircraft reaches 1,200 feet above the surface.
    The Class E airspace area supports IFR operations as they depart 
the heliport on the LMPRY ONE DEPARTURE (RNAV) or the WNONA ONE 
DEPARTURE (RNAV) until the aircraft reaches 1,200 feet above the 
surface.

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 
Order 2100.6B, ``Rulemaking and Guidance Procedure'' (March 10, 2025); 
and (3) is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from 
compliance with applicable operating requirements or minor flight 
rerouting for operators choosing to navigate around the controlled 
airspace. Since these amendments are routine and the expected impact to 
operators is de minimis, the FAA certifies 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 (42 U.S.C. 4321, 
et seq.) and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1G, ``FAA National 
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures,'' paragraph B-2.5.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

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 JO 
7400.11M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 30, 
2026, and effective September 15, 2026, is amended as follows:

    Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *

ANM OR E5 Lincoln City, OR [Amended]

Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Heliport, OR
    (Lat. 44[deg]59'11'' N, long. 123[deg]59'39'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 4.7-mile radius of the heliport excluding the airspace east 
of long. 123[deg]55'51'' W, and within 1.2 miles either side of the 
heliport's 291[deg] bearing extending to the 6.3-mile radius.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on October 5, 2026.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2026-21978 Filed 10-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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