[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75473-75474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-32083]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2003-16437; Airspace Docket No. 03-AWP-02]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Revision of VOR Federal Airway 137

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise VOR Federal Airway 137 (V-137) 
between the Thermal, CA, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Radio 
Range and Tactical Air Navigation Aids (VORTAC) intersection and the 
Imperial, CA, VORTAC. The current route segment between the Thermal, 
CA, VORTAC, and the Imperial, CA, VORTAC is aligned to avoid a 
restricted area that no longer exists. The FAA is proposing this action 
to realign V-137 to form a direct route between the Thermal, CA, 
VORTAC, and the Imperial, CA, VORTAC. This action would improve the 
management of air traffic operations and reduce the route mileage 
between the Thermal, CA, VORTAC and the Imperial, CA, VORTAC.

[[Page 75474]]


DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 17, 2004.

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 FAA Docket 
No. FAA-2003-16437 and Airspace Docket No. 03-AWP-02, at the beginning 
of your comments. You may also submit comments on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov.

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 (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2003-16437 and Airspace Docket No. 03-AWP-02) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
    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 FAA Docket No. FAA-2003-16437 and Airspace Docket No. 03-AWP-02.'' 
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 Federal Register's web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
    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 phone number) between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An 
informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at 
the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Hawthorne, CA 90261.
    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.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 (part 71) to revise V-137 between the 
Thermal, CA, VORTAC, and the Imperial, CA, VORTAC. The current route 
segment between the Thermal, CA, VORTAC, and the Imperial, CA, VORTAC, 
is aligned to avoid a restricted area that no longer exists. The FAA is 
proposing this action to realign V-137 to form a direct route between 
the Thermal, CA, VORTAC, and the Imperial, CA, VORTAC. This action 
would improve the management of air traffic operations and reduce the 
route mileage between the Thermal, CA, VORTAC, and the Imperial, CA, 
VORTAC.
    Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a), of 
FAA Order 7400.9L dated September 2, 2003, and effective September 16, 
2003, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR 
Federal airway 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 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.

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, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE 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 
7400.9L, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 2, 
2003, and effective September 16, 2003, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-137 [Revised]

    From Imperial, CA, INT Imperial 336[deg]M/350[deg]T and Thermal, 
CA, 131[deg]M/144[deg]T radials; Thermal; Palm Springs, CA; 
Palmdale, CA; Gorman, CA; Avenal, CA; Priest, CA; Salinas, CA.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, December 22, 2003.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.
[FR Doc. 03-32083 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P