[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68674-68675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28614]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1014; Airspace Docket No. 11-AAL-19]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-320 and V-440; Alaska

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend two VHF Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal airways in Alaska, V-320 and V-440, due to the relocation 
of the Anchorage VOR navigation aid. This action is necessary for the 
continued safe and efficient management of Instrument Flight Rules 
(IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 22, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the 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-2011-
1014 and Airspace Docket No. 11-AAL-19 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace, Regulation and 
ATC Procedures Group, Office of Airspace Services, 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-2011-1014 and Airspace Docket No. 11-AAL-19) 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-2011-1014 and Airspace Docket No. 11-AAL-19.'' 
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 
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/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    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, Operations Support Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs should

[[Page 68675]]

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

    Docket No. FAA-2011-0010, Airspace Docket No. 11-AAL-1 published on 
April 28, 2011 (76 FR 23687), that amends all Alaska Federal Airways 
affected by the relocation of the Anchorage VOR navigation aid, 
subsequently had the effective date delayed until further notice (76 FR 
35097; June 16, 2011). The FAA then determined that V-320 and V-440 did 
not have satisfactory signal reception coverage in the vicinity of 
Anchorage, AK, and removed them from the rule, to be amended in a 
future rulemaking (76 FR 65106; October 20, 2011). This action would 
amend the above airways as the signal reception of the relocated 
navigation aid is satisfactory to meet Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) 
requirements.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend Alaska Federal airways V-320 and 
V-440. The airway descriptions would reflect the Anchorage VOR 
relocation from Fire Island, AK, to Ted Stevens Anchorage International 
Airport, Anchorage, AK. Additionally, the proposed descriptions 
incorporate new navigation aid radials to describe airway intersections 
necessary to retain a 10,000 feet MEA currently used by air traffic 
control for instrument flight rules aircraft in the vicinity of 
Anchorage, AK.
    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 amends Federal airways in Alaska.
    Alaskan VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(b) of 
FAA Order 7400.9V, dated August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 
2011, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The domestic 
VOR Federal Airways listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures,'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

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 
7400.9V, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 9, 
2011, and effective September 15, 2011, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010--VOR Federal airways.

b--Alaskan VOR Federal airways

* * * * *

V-320 [Amended]

From McGrath, AK; INT McGrath 121[deg](T)/102[deg](M) and Kenai, AK 
350[deg](T)/331[deg](M) radials; INT Kenai 350[deg](T)/331[deg](M) 
and Anchorage, AK 291[deg](T)/272[deg](M) radials; Anchorage; INT 
Anchorage 147[deg](T)/128[deg](M) and Johnstone Point, AK, 
271[deg](T)/244[deg](M) radials; to Johnstone Point.
* * * * *

V-440 [Amended]

From Nome, AK; Unalakleet, AK; McGrath, AK; Anchorage, AK; INT 
Anchorage 147[deg](T)/128[deg](M) and Middleton Island, AK 
309[deg](T)/288[deg](M) radials; Middleton Island; Yakutat, AK; 
Biorka Island, AK; to Sandspit, BC. The airspace within Canada is 
excluded.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2011.
Gary A. Norek,
Acting Manager, Airspace, Regulation and ATC Procedure Group.
[FR Doc. 2011-28614 Filed 11-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P