[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76070-76072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31223]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1193; Airspace Docket No. 11-ANM-14]


Proposed Modification of Area Navigation Route T-288; WY

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify low altitude area navigation 
(RNAV) route T-288 by extending the route westward from the Rapid City, 
SD, VORTAC to the Gillette, WY, VOR/DME. The proposed extension would 
enhance efficiency and safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) by 
supplementing the existing VOR Federal airway structure in that area.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 20, 2012.

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-2011-1193 and Airspace Docket No. 11-ANM-14 at the 
beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Airspace, Regulations 
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.

[[Page 76071]]

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-2011-1193 and Airspace Docket No. 11-ANM-14) 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-2011-1193 and Airspace Docket No. 11-ANM-14.'' 
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, 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, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., Renton, WA 98057.
    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.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify RNAV route T-288 by adding a new 
segment between the Rapid City, SD VORTAC and the Gillette, WY VOR/DME. 
The modification would enhance the efficiency and safety of the NAS by 
supplementing the existing VOR Federal airway structure and providing 
alternative routing in the event of navigation aid (NAVAID) outages. 
The minimum IFR altitude in the area varies between 7,000 feet MSL and 
9,300 feet MSL; however, the radar coverage in that area is not 
reliable below 12,000 feet MSL to 13,000 feet MSL. When NAVAID outages 
occur, due to the existing route and NAVAID structure, it is difficult 
to route aircraft between the Gillette VOR/DME and the Rapid City 
VORTAC. In this situation, aircraft flying at lower altitudes must 
climb up to be within radar coverage in order to get a more direct 
route to/from the VOR/DME and VORTAC. This is especially important 
during winter months because pilots encountering icing conditions at 
the higher altitudes need to descend, but are then lost from radar 
coverage. The proposed T-288 modification would alleviate this 
situation as well as enhance the NAS efficiency by adding an RNAV route 
option.
    Low altitude RNAV routes are published in paragraph 6011 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 RNAV route 
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 expands RNAV route coverage to enhance the safe and efficient 
flow of traffic in the western United States.

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 and 311b. 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 
7400.9V, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 9, 
2011 and effective September 15, 2011, is amended as follows:

[[Page 76072]]

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

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T-288 Gillette, WY (GCC) to Wolbach, NE (OBH) [Amended]
Gillette, WY (GCC)..........  VOR/DME.............  (Lat. 44[deg]20'52'' N., long. 105[deg]32'37'' W.)
KARAS,......................  INT.................  (Lat. 44[deg]16'23'' N., long. 104[deg]18'50'' W.)
Rapid City, SD (RAP)........  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 43[deg]58'34'' N., long. 103[deg]00'44'' W)
WNDED, SD...................  WP..................  (Lat. 43[deg]19'14'' N., long. 101[deg]32'19'' W.)
Valentine, NE (VTN).........  NDB.................  (Lat. 42[deg]51'42'' N., long. 100[deg]32'59'' W.)
Ainsworth, NE (ANW).........  VOR/DME.............  (Lat. 42[deg]34'09'' N., long. 99[deg]59'23'' W.)
FESNT, NE...................  WP..................  (Lat. 42[deg]03'57'' N., long. 99[deg]17'18'' W.)
Wolbach, NE (OBH)...........  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 41[deg]22'33'' N., long. 98[deg]21'13'' W.)
 

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    Issued in Washington, DC on November 29, 2011.
Gary A. Norek,
Acting Manager, Airspace, Regulations and ATC Procedures Group.
[FR Doc. 2011-31223 Filed 12-5-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P