[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9060-9062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2978]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0037; Airspace Docket No. 07-AWP-6]


Proposed Establishment of Low Altitude Area Navigation Routes (T-
Routes); Sacramento and San Francisco, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish four low altitude Area 
Navigation (RNAV) routes, designated T-257, T-259, T-261 and T-263 in 
the Sacramento and San Francisco, CA, terminal areas. T-routes are low 
altitude Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes, based on RNAV, for use by 
aircraft having instrument flight rules (IFR)-approved Global 
Positioning System (GPS)/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) 
equipment. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance safety and 
improve the efficient use of the navigable airspace in the Sacramento 
and San Francisco, CA, terminal areas.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001; telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify 
FAA Docket No. FAA Docket No. FAA-2008-0037 and Airspace Docket No. 07-
AWP-6 at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments 
through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, Airspace and Rules Group, 
Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, 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 Docket No. FAA-2008-0037 and Airspace Docket No. 07-AWP-6) and be 
submitted in triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see 
``ADDRESSES'' section for address and phone number). You may also 
submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA Docket No. FAA-2008-0037 and Airspace Docket No. 
07-AWP-6.'' 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 action 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 NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the

[[Page 9061]]

Internet at http://www.regulations.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 Western Service Center, Air Traffic Organization, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue, 15000 SW., Renton, 
WA 98055.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRM's should contact 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.

History

Low Altitude RNAV Route Identification and Charting

    Low altitude RNAV routes are identified by the letter ``T'' prefix 
followed by a three digit number. The ``T'' prefix is one of several 
International Civil Aviation Organization designators used to identify 
domestic RNAV routes. The FAA has been allocated the letter ``T'' 
prefix and the number block 200 to 500 for use in naming these routes. 
The FAA uses the ``T'' prefix for RNAV routes in the low altitude en 
route structure of the National Airspace System.
    T-routes are depicted in blue on the appropriate IFR en route low 
altitude chart(s). Each route depiction includes a GNSS minimum en 
route altitude to ensure obstacle clearance and communications 
reception.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to establish four low altitude RNAV routes 
in the Sacramento and San Francisco, CA, terminal areas. The routes 
would be designated T-257, T-259, T-261 and T-263, and would be 
depicted on the appropriate IFR En Route Low Altitude charts. T-routes 
are low altitude RNAV ATS routes, similar to Very High Frequency 
Omnidirectional Range Federal airways, but based on GNSS navigation. 
RNAV-equipped aircraft capable of filing flight plan equipment suffix 
``G'' may file for these routes.
    The T-routes described in this notice are being proposed to enhance 
safety, and to facilitate the more flexible and efficient use of the 
navigable airspace for en route IFR operations transitioning through 
and around the Sacramento and San Francisco, CA, terminal areas.
    Low altitude RNAV routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA 
Order 7400.9R signed August 15, 2007 and effective September 15, 2007, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The low altitude 
RNAV routes 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.
    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 establishes RNAV T-Routes at Sacramento and San Francisco, CA.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 311a, 311b, and 311k. 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.

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 
7400.9R, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, signed August 15, 
2007 and effective September 15, 2007, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6011--Contiguous United States Area Navigation Routes

* * * * *

T-257 Big Sur, CA (BSR) to Point Reyes (PYE) [New]
Big Sur, CA (BSR)...........  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 36[deg]10'53'' N., long. 121[deg]38'32'' W.)
ISIFU.......................  WP..................  (Lat. 36[deg]43'29'' N., long. 121[deg]56'57'' W.)
SUTRO.......................  WP..................  (Lat. 36[deg]42'43'' N., long. 122[deg]32'49'' W.)
Point Reyes, CA (PYE).......  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 38[deg]04'47'' N., long. 122[deg]52'41'' W.)
 
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
T-259 Sacramento, CA (SAC) to San Jose, CA (SJC) [New]
Sacramento, CA. (SAC).......  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 38[deg]26'37'' N., long. 121[deg]33'00'' W.)
MOVDD.......................  WP..................  (Lat. 37[deg]39'41'' N., long. 121[deg]26'54'' W.)

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CEDES.......................  WP..................  (Lat. 37[deg]33'30'' N., long. 121[deg]37'51'' W.)
San Jose, CA. (SJC).........  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 37[deg]22'29'' N., long. 121[deg]56'41'' W.)
 
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
T-261 Woodside, CA (OSI) to ALTAM [New]
Woodside, CA (OSI)..........  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 37[deg]23'33'' N., long. 122[deg]16'55'' W.)
ALTAM.......................  WP..................  (Lat. 37[deg]48'44'' N., long. 121[deg]44'50'' W.)
 
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
T-263 Sunol to Scaggs Island, CA (SGD) [New]
SUNOL.......................  WP..................  (Lat. 37[deg]36'20'' N., long. 121[deg]48'37'' W.)
Scaggs Island, CA (SGD).....  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 38[deg]10'46'' N., long. 122[deg]22'23'' W.)
 
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
 


    Issued in Washington, DC on February 8, 2008.
Ellen Crum,
Acting Manager, Airspace and Rules Group.
 [FR Doc. E8-2978 Filed 2-15-08; 8:45 am]
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