Amendment of Class E Airspace; Roanoke Rapids, NC

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION <SUBAGY>Federal Aviation Administration</SUBAGY> <CFR>14 CFR Part 71</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FAA-2024-1966; Airspace Docket No. 24-ASO-19]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 2120-AA66</RIN> <SUBJECT>Amendment of Class E Airspace; Roanoke Rapids, NC</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Roanoke Rapids, NC, by adding required airspace to support the new RNAV (GPS) standard instrument approach for Halifax Regional Medical Center Heliport, Roanoke Rapids, NC. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> Effective 0901 UTC, August 7, 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. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> A copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be viewed online at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov</E> using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, as well as subsequent amendments, can be viewed online at <E T="03">www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/</E> . For further information, 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. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Marc Ellerbee, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone: (404) 305-5589. </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Authority for This Rulemaking</HD> 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 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 amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Halifax Regional Medical Center Heliport, Roanoke Rapids, NC. <HD SOURCE="HD1">History</HD> The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. FAA 2024-1966 in the <E T="04">Federal Register</E> (89 FR 88915; November 12, 2024), proposing to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Halifax Regional Medical Center Heliport, Roanoke Rapids, NC. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Incorporation by Reference</HD> Class E airspace is 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 <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E> 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. <HD SOURCE="HD1">The Rule</HD> This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6-mile radius of Halifax Regional Medical Center Heliport, Roanoke Rapids, NC, providing the controlled airspace required to support the new RNAV (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of IFR operations in the area. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Regulatory Notices and Analyses</HD> 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 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. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Environmental Review</HD> 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 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant the preparation of an environmental assessment. <LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HED">Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71</HD> Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air). </LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HD1">The Amendment</HD> In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS</HD> <REGTEXT TITLE="14" PART="71"> 1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD> 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389. </REGTEXT> <SECTION> <SECTNO>§ 71.1 </SECTNO> <SUBJECT>[Amended]</SUBJECT> </SECTION> <REGTEXT TITLE="14" PART="71"> 2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation Administration Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows: <EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">ASO NC E5 Roanoke Rapids, NC [Amended]</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">Halifax/Northampton Regional Airport, NC</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">(Lat. 36°19′47″ N, long. 77°38′07″ W)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">Halifax Regional Medical Center Heliport, NC</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">(Lat. 36°25′56″ N, long. 77°38′42″ W)</FP> That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.5-mile radius of Halifax/Northampton Regional Airport and within a 6-mile radius of Halifax Regional Medical Center Heliport. <STARS/> </EXTRACT> </REGTEXT> <SIG> <DATED>Issued in College Park, Georgia, on April 29, 2025.</DATED> <NAME>Patrick Young,</NAME> Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic Organization. </SIG> </SUPLINF> <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2025-07663 Filed 5-1-25; 8:45 am]</FRDOC> </RULE>