[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4742-4743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2190]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2002-14010; Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-09]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Modification and Revocation of Federal Airways; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to revoke two Very High Frequency 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways, Victor 307 and 362 (V-307 
and V-362); and revise Victor 317 (V-317) and Colored Federal Airway 
Amber 15 (A-15) in Alaska. The FAA is proposing this action due to the 
decommissioning of the McInnes Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB), 
Canada.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 17, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management 
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket 
number FAA-2002-14010/Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-9, at the beginning of 
your comments.
    You may also submit comments on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. 
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5527) is on the plaza 
level of the

[[Page 4743]]

Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at the above address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, 14, Anchorage, 
AK 99533.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, Airspace and Rules 
Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2002-14010/
Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-09.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter. All communications received on or before 
the specified closing date for comments will be considered before 
taking action on the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this 
notice may be changed in light of comments received. All comments 
submitted will be available for examination in the public docket both 
before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing 
each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this 
rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM's

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents 
can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov 
or the Superintendent of Document's web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
    Additionally, any person may obtain a copy of this notice by 
submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of 
Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must 
identify both docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in 
being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should call the FAA's 
Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, for a copy of Advisory Circular 
No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which 
describes the application procedure.

Background

    In November 2002, the FAA was notified by NAV Canada that the 
continued operation of the Canadian Coast Guard's McInnes Island NDB 
was in jeopardy and that action was needed to reconfigure airways using 
the McInnes NDB.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing to amend Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations 
(14 CFR) part 71 (part 71) that inpart revokes two VOR Federal Airways 
(V-307 and V362); and modifies VOR Federal Airway V-317, and Colored 
Federal Airway A-15, in Alaska. The FAA is proposing this action in 
preparation for the decommissioning of the McInnes Nondirectional Radio 
Beacon (NDB), Canada.
    Colored Federal airways and Alaska VOR Federal airways are 
published in paragraphs 6009(copyright) and paragraph 6010(b), 
respectively, of FAA Order 7400.9K dated August 30, 2002, and effective 
September 16, 2002, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 
Section 71.1. The colored Federal airway and Alaskan VOR Federal 
airways listed in this document would be published subsequently in the 
order.
    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. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation: (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 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

    1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 
7400.9K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 30, 
2002, and effective September 16, 2002, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(b) Alaskan VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-307 [Revoke]

* * * * *

V-362 [Revoke]

* * * * *

V-317 [Revised]

    From Vancouver, BC, Canada via Comox, BC, Canada; Port Hardy, 
BC, Canada; Sandspit, BC, Canada; Annette Island, AK; Level Island, 
AK; Sisters Island, AK; to INT Sisters Island 272[deg] and Yakutat, 
AK, 139[deg] radials. The airspace within Canada is excluded.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6009(c)--Amber Federal Airways

* * * * *

A-15 [Revised]

    From Port Hardy, BC, Canada, NDB, via Nichols, AK, NDB; Sumner 
Strait, AK, NDB; Coghlan Island, AK, NDB; Haines, AK, NDB; Burwash, 
YT, Canada, NDB; Nabesna, AK, NDB; to Delta Junction, AK, NDB. From 
Chena, AK, NDB via Chandalar Lake, AK, NDB; Put River, AK, NDB. The 
airspace within Canada is excluded.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, January 23, 2003.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.
[FR Doc. 03-2190 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
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