[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39532-39533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17508]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0109; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASO-13]


Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-7 and V-67; TN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies VOR Federal airways V-7 and V-67, in the 
eastern United States due to the planned decommissioning of the Graham, 
TN, VORTAC navigation aid.

DATES: Effective date 0901, October 12, 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: 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 modifies the air traffic service route structure in the 
eastern United States to maintain the efficient flow of air traffic.

History

    On March 6, 2017, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend V-7 and V-67, in the 
eastern United States due to the planned decommissioning of the Graham, 
TN, VORTAC navigation aid (82 FR 12522), Docket No. FAA-2017-0109. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. Three comments 
were received.

Discussion of Comments

    The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) wrote that, for 
those VOR NAVAIDs that are to be decommissioned and for those airways 
that are correspondingly removed, the FAA should create an RNAV 
waypoint at the previous NAVAID location and retain all fixes and 
intersections along that route by amending their definition to that of 
an RNAV waypoint. The impacted air traffic control facilities conducted 
a thorough review of their operations in the areas affected by the 
route changes to determine which fixes and intersections along the 
route segments being removed were necessary for continuing to support 
the facilities' operations and for navigation purposes through the 
area. As a result, the VALER fix is the only fix being retained to 
supplement the existing adjacent fixes, waypoints, and navigation aids 
in the areas that the V-7 and V-67 route segments are being removed. 
Additionally, the Graham VORTAC is currently functioning as a Distance 
Measuring Equipment (DME) only facility and is planned to be retained 
and charted as a DME facility with the ``GHM'' three-letter identifier. 
The change will be reflected in all appropriate publications and 
procedures prior to decommissioning the Graham VORTAC. Consequently, 
the FAA does not plan to replace the Graham VORTAC or fixes along the 
removed route segments with RNAV waypoints.
    One commenter noted that V-124, which is also linked to the Graham 
VORTAC, is not addressed in this action. V-124 is being amended through 
a separate action for the decommissioning of the Jacks Creek, TN, VOR/
DME. On June 7, 2017, the Jacks Creek final rule was published in the 
Federal Register (82 FR 26336), Docket No. 16-ASO-12. That rule amends 
V-124 by eliminating the route segments from Gilmore, AR, through Jacks 
Creek, TN, to Graham, TN. The effective date of the V-124 change is 
August 17, 2017.
    A third comment noted concern about the length of the gaps in the 
amended airways V-7 and V-67. However, as the commenter admitted, this 
is a non-issue since 14 CFR 91.205(d)(2) requires that aircraft 
conducting IFR flight be equipped with navigation equipment suitable 
for the route to be flown. Additionally, the commenter called the route 
changes an important step toward implementation of the NextGen program.
    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 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.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by modifying the descriptions of VOR Federal airways V-7, and 
V-67, due to the planned decommissioning of the Graham, TN, VORTAC. The 
route changes are described below.
    V-7: V-7 extends between Dolphin, FL, and Sawyer, MI. This rule 
removes the Graham, TN, VORTAC from the route which creates a gap in 
the route

[[Page 39533]]

between Muscle Shoals, AL, and Central City, KY. Therefore, the amended 
route extends between Dolphin, FL, and Muscle Shoals, AL, as currently 
described; then between Central City, KY, and Sawyer, MI, as currently 
described.
    V-67: V-67 extends between the Choo Choo, TN, VORTAC and the 
Rochester, MN, VOR/DME. This rule removes the Graham, TN, VORTAC from 
the route which creates a gap in the route between Shelbyville, TN, and 
Cunningham, KY. Therefore, the amended route extends between Choo Choo, 
TN, and Shelbyville, TN, as currently described; then between 
Cunningham, KY, and Rochester, MN, as currently described. This action 
also corrects the state location for the Choo Choo VORTAC to reflect 
Tennessee.

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 because 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 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 of modifying the 
descriptions of VOR Federal airways V-7, and V-67, due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Graham, TN, VORTAC. qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act and its agency-
specific implementing regulations in FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental 
Impacts: Policies and Procedures'' regarding categorical exclusions for 
procedural actions at paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically excludes 
from full environmental impact review rulemaking actions that designate 
or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, and reporting 
points. Therefore, this airspace action is not expected to result in 
any significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA Order 
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).

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 6010(a)--Domestic VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-7 [Amended]

    From Dolphin, FL; INT Dolphin 299[deg] and Lee County, FL, 
120[deg] radials; Lee County; Lakeland, FL; Cross City, FL; 
Seminole, FL; Wiregrass, AL; INT Wiregrass 333[deg] and Montgomery, 
AL, 129[deg] radials; Montgomery; Vulcan, AL; to Muscle Shoals, AL. 
From Central City, KY; Pocket City, IN; INT Pocket City 016[deg] and 
Terre Haute, IN, 191[deg] radials; Terre Haute; Boiler, IN; Chicago 
Heights, IL; INT Chicago Heights 358[deg] and Falls, WI, 170[deg] 
radials; Falls; Green Bay, WI; Menominee, MI; to Sawyer, MI. The 
airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded. 
The portion outside the United States has no upper limit.

V-67 [Amended]

    From Choo Choo, TN; to Shelbyville, TN. From Cunningham, KY; 
Marion, IL; Centralia, IL; INT Centralia 010[deg] and Vandalia, IL, 
162[deg] radials; Vandalia; Spinner, IL; Burlington, IA; Iowa City, 
IA; Cedar Rapids, IA; Waterloo, IA; to Rochester, MN.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 14, 2017.
Rodger A. Dean, Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2017-17508 Filed 8-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P