[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1181-1183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31901]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2015-1345; Airspace Docket No. 14-AWP-13]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of an Air Traffic Service (ATS) Route; Western 
United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes one low altitude Area Navigation 
(RNAV) T-route in the western United States. The route establishes a 
transition from the San Diego area to points east. This route promotes 
operational efficiencies for users and provides connectivity to current 
and proposed RNAV en route and terminal procedures.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, March 2, 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: 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: Kenneth Ready, 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 modifies the air traffic service route structure in the 
north central United States to maintain the efficient flow of air 
traffic.

History

    On June 5, 2015, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (80 FR 32074), Docket No. FAA-2015-1345, 
to establish 13 RNAV Q-routes and one T-route originating in Los 
Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center's (ARTCC) airspace. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were received.

[[Page 1182]]

    A final rule was published in the Federal Register February 4, 2016 
(81 FR 5898), Docket No. FAA-2015-1345, addressing the 13 RNAV Q-
routes. The T-Route was not addressed in that final rule because it 
required more coordination due to it being part of the Southern 
California Metroplex Environmental Assessment.
    The development of new RNAV Standard Instrument Departure (SID) and 
Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) routes requires incorporation of this 
T-Route into the National Airspace System route structure in order to 
maximize the benefits of increased safety in high volume enroute 
sectors.
    The Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) currently 
does not have routes that join the Performance Based Navigation (PBN) 
arrival and departure procedures. The existing conventional jet route 
structure does not serve the new SID/STAR designs. Routes made up of 
ground based navigational aids are not capable of delivering aircraft 
onto the RNAV based arrival and departure procedures in an efficient 
manner. Developing these predictable and repeatable flight paths 
through a complex area confined by restricted areas will improve 
throughput and safety for Los Angeles ARTCC.
    This first phase of a two-phase project will align a network of Q-
Routes with the new SIDs and STARs. The Q-Route structure is projected 
to optimize descent/climb profiles to/from several airports in southern 
California and create segregated arrival/departure paths to reduce 
airspace complexity. The T-Route in this final rule de-conflicts 
current airway traffic from southern California to de-conflict with the 
newly established Q-Routes and provides a route east bound along 
mountainous terrain and Mexico's border.
    Low altitude United States RNAV routes are published in paragraph 
6011 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 low altitude United States RNAV T-route listed in this document 
will be subsequently published in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends 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 document. FAA Order 7400.11A lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Differences From the NPRM

    A previous rule published in the Federal Register of February 4, 
2016 (81 FR 5898), Docket No. 2015-1345, had several changes from the 
NPRM which were addressed in the February 4, 2016, final rule. This 
rule establishes RNAV T-route T-326, which was proposed in the NPRM but 
was not finalized in the rule. The route required additional 
coordination within the Southern California Metroplex Environmental 
Assessment with no changes made to the proposed route. The 
environmental study has been finalized with no comments addressing the 
establishment of T-326.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by establishing U.S. RNAV T-route T-326 beginning at the 
Mission Bay, CA, VORTAC (MZB) to the Imperial, CA, VORTAC (IPL) to 
transition from the San Diego area to the east. The route will be used 
to de-conflict airway traffic from arrivals and departures at San Diego 
International Airport. The route enhances safety through de-confliction 
of airway traffic and provides routing in limited airspace between 
mountainous terrain and Mexico's border

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this 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 only affects air traffic procedures 
and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated, 
does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action establishing one low 
altitude RNAV T-route in the western U.S. to function as a transition 
from the San Diego area to points east, qualifies for categorical 
exclusion from full environmental impact review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, Paragraph 5-6.5a for 
Rulemaking actions that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, 
airways, routes, and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation 
of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; 
and Reporting Points). This action is not expected to cause any 
potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAAO 
1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, this 
action has been reviewed for factors and circumstances in which a 
normally categorically excluded action may have a significant 
environmental impact requiring further analysis, and it is determined 
that 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).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 
2016, and effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-326 Mission Bay, CA to Imperial, CA (New)
 
Mission Bay, CA (MZB)   VORTAC                 (Lat. 32[deg]46'55.93'' N., long. 117[deg]13'31.49'' W.)
HAILE, CA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]46'45.70'' N., long. 117[deg]00'51.71'' W.)

[[Page 1183]]

 
BLLYJ, CA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]49'38.06'' N., long. 116[deg]45'56.45'' W.)
STAXS, CA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]52'16.70'' N., long. 116[deg]32'17.69'' W.)
GILYY, CA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]52'12.12'' N., long. 116[deg]21'05.24'' W.)
KUMBA, CA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]45'43.18'' N., long. 116[deg]03'13.37'' W.)
Imperial, CA (IPL)      VORTAC                 (Lat. 32[deg]44'55.92'' N., long. 115[deg]30'30.90'' W.)
 


    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 21, 2016.
Leslie M. Swann,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2016-31901 Filed 1-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P