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 ( printed page 54799) 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 updates the coordinates listed for restricted areas R-2505, R-2524, R-2508, and R-2515 in California.

Good Cause for Bypassing Notice and Comment

The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) authorizes agencies to dispense with ordinary notice and comment requirements for rules when the agency for “good cause” finds that those procedures are “unnecessary.” 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). This action amends multiple coordinates used to describe restricted areas R-2505, R-2524, R-2508, and R-2515 in California. The amendments are administrative in nature and do not expand any outer boundaries, altitudes, times of designation, or activities conducted within the restricted areas. This action will not impose any additional substantive restrictions or requirements on the persons affected by these regulations as it does not change any outer boundaries, altitudes, times of designation, or activities conducted within the restricted areas. The updated coordinates only impact inner boundaries of subdivided areas. The action constitutes “a routine determination, insignificant in nature and impact, and inconsequential to the industry and to the public.” Mack Trucks, Inc. v. EPA, 682 F.3d 87, 94 (D.C. Cir. 2012). Therefore, the FAA finds good cause that notice and public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) is unnecessary.

The Rule

This action amends 14 CFR part 73 by modifying the coordinates used to describe restricted areas R-2505, R-2524, R-2508, and R-2515 in California.

R-2505: Prior to this final rule, the R-2505 boundaries were defined as beginning at lat. 36°14′00″ N, long. 117°53′03″ W; to lat. 36°14′00″ N, long. 117°25′03″ W; to lat. 35°40′30″ N, long. 117°25′03″ W; to lat. 35°37′30″ N, long. 117°35′33″ W; to lat. 35°37′30″ N, long. 117°47′33″ W; to lat. 35°54′00″ N, long. 117°53′03″ W; to the point of beginning. As amended, the R-2505 boundaries are defined as beginning at lat. 36°14′00″ N, long. 117°53′03″ W; to lat. 36°14′00″ N, long. 117°36′03″ W; to lat. 36°14′00″ N, long. 117°25′03″ W; to lat. 35°40′30″ N, long. 117°25′03″ W; to lat. 35°39′15″ N, long. 117°29′26″ W; to lat. 35°37′30″ N, long. 117°35′33″ W; to lat. 35°37′30″ N, long. 117°47′33″ W; to lat. 35°54′00″ N, long. 117°53′03″ W; to lat. 36°08′00″ N, long. 117°53′03″ W; to the point of beginning.

R-2524: Prior to this final rule, the R-2524 boundaries were defined as beginning at lat. 35°47′46″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to lat. 35°15′56″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to lat. 35°15′56″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 35°36′00″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 35°36′00″ N, long. 117°16′55″ W; to lat. 35°47′46″ N, long. 117°16′55″ W; to the point of beginning. As amended, the R-2524 boundaries are defined as beginning at lat. 35°36′00″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 35°36′00″ N, long. 117°16′55″ W; to lat. 35°47′46″ N, long. 117°16′55″ W; to lat. 35°47′46″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to lat. 35°37′45″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to lat. 35°19′00″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to lat. 35°15′56″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to lat. 35°15′56″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 35°27′40″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to the point of beginning.

R-2508: Prior to this final rule, the R-2508 boundaries were defined as beginning at lat. 37°12′00″ N, long. 117°20′03″ W; to lat. 35°34′00″ N, long. 116°23′03″ W; to lat. 35°28′35″ N, long. 116°18′48″ W; to lat. 35°18′45″ N, long.116°18′48″ W; to lat. 35°07′00″ N, long. 116°34′03″ W; to lat. 35°07′00″ N, long. 116°47′48″ W; to lat. 35°08′50″ N, long. 116°48′43″ W; to lat. 35°06′30″ N, long. 116°58′43″ W; to lat. 34°53′30″ N, long. 117°11′53″ W; to lat. 34°50′20″ N, long. 117°32′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′30″ N, long. 117°32′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′00″ N, long. 117°35′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′00″ N, long.118°01′03″ W; to lat. 34°49′40″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to lat. 34°51′30″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to lat. 34°56′00″ N, long. 118°21′03″ W; to lat. 35°15′00″ N, long. 118°35′03″ W; to lat. 37°12′00″ N, long. 118°35′03″ W; to the point of beginning. As amended, the R-2508 boundaries are defined as beginning at lat. 37°12′00″ N, long. 118°35′03″ W; to lat. 37°12′00″ N, long. 118°26′03″ W; to lat. 37°12′00″ N, long. 118°00′03″ W; to lat. 37°12′00″ N, long. 117°20′03″ W; to lat. 36°30′00″ N, long. 116°55′18″ W; to lat. 35°34′30″ N, long. 116°23′33″ W; to lat. 35°28′35″ N, long. 116°18′48″ W; to lat. 35°25′48″ N, long. 116°18′48″ W; to lat. 35°18′45″ N, long. 116°18′48″ W; to lat. 35°07′00″ N, long. 116°34′03″ W; to lat. 35°07′00″ N, long. 116°47′48″ W; to lat. 35°08′50″ N, long. 116°48′43″ W; to lat. 35°06′30″ N, long. 116°58′43″ W; to lat. 34°56′20″ N, long. 117°09′02″ W; to lat. 34°53′30″ N, long. 117°11′53″ W; to lat. 34°51′17″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 34°50′20″ N, long. 117°32′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′30″ N, long. 117°32′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′00″ N, long. 117°35′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′00″ N, long. 118°01′03″ W; to lat. 34°49′40″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to lat. 34°51′30″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to lat. 34°56′00″ N, long. 118°21′03″ W; to lat. 35°15′00″ N, long. 118°35′03″ W; to lat. 35°40′00″ N, long. 118°35′03″ W; to lat. 36°08′00″ N, long. 118°35′03″ W; to lat. 36°35′50″ N, long. 118°35′03″ W; to lat. 37°04′50″ N, long. 118°35′03″ W; to the point of beginning. Additionally, prior to this final rule, the name of R-2508 was “R-2508 Complex, CA”, as amended, the name is “R-2508 China Lake, CA”.

R-2515: Prior to this final rule, the R-2515 boundaries were defined as beginning at lat. 35°19′00″ N, long. 116°49′03″ W; to lat. 35°10′00″ N, long. 116°49′03″ W; to lat. 35°08′50″ N, long. 116°48′43″ W; to lat. 35°06′30″ N, long.116°58′43″ W; to lat. 34°53′30″ N, long. 117°11′53″ W; to lat. 34°50′20″ N, long. 117°32′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′30″ N, long. 117°32′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′00″ N, long. 117°35′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′00″ N, long. 118°01′03″ W; to lat. 34°49′40″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to lat. 35°01′00″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to lat. 35°27′40″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 35°15′56″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 35°15′56″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to lat. 35°19′00″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to the point of beginning. As amended, the R-2515 boundaries are defined as beginning at lat. 35°01′00″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to lat. 35°19′20″ N, long. 117°38′33″ W; to lat. 35°27′40″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 35°15′56″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 35°15′56″ N, long. 116°55′23″W; to lat. 35°19′00″ N, long. 116°55′23″ W; to lat. 35°19′00″ N, long. 116°49′03″ W; to lat. 35°10′00″ N, long. 116°49′03″ W; to lat. 35°08′50″ N, long. 116°48′43″W; to lat. 35°06′30″ N, long. 116°58′43″ W; to lat. 34°56′20″ N, long. 117°09′02″ W; to lat. 34°53′30″ N, long. 117°11′53″ W; to lat. 34°51′17″ N, long. 117°26′03″ W; to lat. 34°50′20″ N, long. 117°32′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′30″ N, long. 117°32′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′00″ N, long. 117°35′03″ W; to lat. 34°48′00″ N, long. 118°01′03″ W; to lat. 34°49′40″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to lat. 34°51′30″ N, long. 118°05′48″ W; to the point of beginning.

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 anticipated to have a minimal economic impact, as it only affects air traffic ( printed page 54800) procedures and air navigation, resulting in at most de minimis costs from minor rerouting of flights. Since this is a routine matter that only affects air traffic procedures with de minimis impact on operators, 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 of amending multiple coordinates used to describe restricted areas R-2505, R-2524, R-2508, and R-2515 in California 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(d), which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review modification of the technical description of special use airspace (SUA) that does not alter the dimensions, altitudes, or times of designation of the airspace (such as changes in designation of the controlling or using agency, or correction of typographical errors). As such, this action is not expected to result in any potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with the FAA's NEPA implementation policy and procedures regarding extraordinary circumstances, the FAA has reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a normally categorically excluded action may have a significant environmental impact requiring further analysis. The FAA has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

The Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 73 as follows: