[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 231 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 86633-86634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28728]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9178; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-12]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways; Eastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify VOR Federal airways V-16, V-94 
and V-124, in the eastern United States due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Jacks Creek, TN, VOR/DME navigation aid.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 17, 2017. The 
Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by 
reference action under title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, 
subject to the annual revision of FAA, Order 7400.11 and publication of 
conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 1 
(800) 647-5527 or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-
2016-9178 and Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-12 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11A at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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 would modify three air traffic service route structures 
in the eastern United States to maintain the efficient flow of air 
traffic.

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-2016-9178 and Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-12) 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-2016-9178 and Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-12.'' 
The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date 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 comment 
closing date. 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://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

[[Page 86634]]

person in the Dockets Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and 
phone number) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during 
normal business hours at the office of the Eastern Service Center, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College 
Park, GA, 30337.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016 and effective 
September 15, 2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.11A 
lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service 
routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify the descriptions of VOR Federal 
airways V-16, V-94 and V-124, due to the planned decommissioning of the 
Jacks Creek, TN, VOR/DME. The proposed route changes are described 
below.
    V-16: V-16 extends between Los Angeles, CA, and Boston, MA. The FAA 
proposes to modify that portion of the route that reads ``. . . 
Marvell, AR; Holly Springs, MS; Jacks Creek, TN; Shelbyville, TN . . . 
.'' To read as follows: ``. . . Marvell, AR; to Holly Springs, MS. From 
Shelbyville, TN; . . . .'' thus eliminating Jacks Creek, TN, from the 
route.
    V-94: V-94 extends between Blythe, CA and Bowling Green, KY. The 
FAA proposes to terminate the route at Holly Springs, MS, thus 
eliminating the segments of the route from Holly Springs, MS, through 
Jacks Creek, TN, to Bowling Green, KY.
    V-124: V-124 extends between Bonham, TX and Graham, TN. The FAA 
proposes to terminate the route at Gilmore, AR, thus eliminating the 
segments from Gilmore, AR, through Jacks Creek, TN, to Graham, TN.
    Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016 and effective September 15, 
2016, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR 
Federal airways listed in this document would be subsequently published 
in the Order.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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. 
It, therefore: (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.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``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

0
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

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


Sec.  71.1   [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11A, 
Airspace Design ations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016 and 
effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-16 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; Palm Springs, CA; Blythe, 
CA; Buckeye, AZ; Phoenix, AZ; INT Phoenix 155[deg] and Stanfield, 
AZ, 105[deg] radials; Tucson, AZ; San Simon, AZ; INT San Simon 
119[deg] and Columbus, NM, 277[deg] radials; Columbus; El Paso, TX; 
Salt Flat, TX; Wink, TX; INT Wink 066[deg] and Big Spring, TX, 
260[deg] radials; Big Spring; Abilene, TX; Bowie, TX; Bonham, TX; 
Paris, TX; Texarkana, AR; Pine Bluff, AR; Marvell, AR; to Holly 
Springs, MS. From Shelbyville, TN; Hinch Mountain, TN; Volunteer, 
TN; Holston Mountain, TN; Pulaski, VA; Roanoke, VA; Lynchburg, VA; 
Flat Rock, VA; Richmond, VA; INT Richmond 039[deg] and Patuxent, MD, 
228[deg] radials; Patuxent; Smyrna, DE; Cedar Lake, NJ; Coyle, NJ; 
INT Coyle 036[deg] and Kennedy, NY, 209[deg] radials; Kennedy; INT 
Kennedy 040[deg] and Calverton, NY 261[deg] radials; Calverton; 
Norwich, CT; Boston, MA. The airspace within Mexico and the airspace 
below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded. The 
airspace within Restricted Areas R-5002A, R-5002C, and R-5002D is 
excluded during their times of use. The airspace within Restricted 
Areas R-4005 and R-4006 is excluded.

V-94 [Amended]

    From Blythe, CA, INT Blythe 094[deg] and Gila Bend, AZ, 299[deg] 
radials; Gila Bend; Stanfield, AZ; 55 miles, 74 miles, 95 MSL, San 
Simon, AZ; Deming, NM; Newman, TX; Salt Flat, TX; Wink, TX; Midland, 
TX; Tuscola, TX; Glen Rose, TX; Cedar Creek, TX: Gregg County, TX; 
Elm Grove, LA; Monroe, LA; Greenville, MS; to Holly Springs, MS.

V-124 [Amended]

    From Bonham, TX, via Paris, TX; Hot Springs, AR; Little Rock, 
AR; to Gilmore, AR.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 22, 2016.
Leslie M. Swann,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2016-28728 Filed 11-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P