[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34078-34080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15104]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0476; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-7]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-148, V-177, and V-345 
in the Vicinity of Ely, MN, and Hayward, WI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways V-148 and V-345 in the vicinity of Hayward, WI, and 
remove V-177 in the vicinity of Ely, MN, and Hayward, WI. The VOR 
Federal airways modifications and removal are necessary due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Ely, MN, and Hayward, WI, VOR navigation 
aids (NAVAIDs), which provide navigation guidance for portions of the 
affected air traffic service (ATS) routes. The Ely and Hayward VORs are 
being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational 
Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 3, 2019.

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-2019-0476; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-7 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11C, 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 7400.11C at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://

[[Page 34079]]

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, 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 the National Airspace System as necessary 
to preserve the safe and 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-2019-0476; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-7) 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-2019-0476; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-7.'' 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 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 
9:00 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 Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Blvd., 
Fort Worth, TX, 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective 
September 15, 2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning decommissioning activities for the Ely, MN, and 
Hayward, WI, VORs in 2020 as two of the candidate VORs identified for 
discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON program and listed in the final 
policy statement notice, ``Provision of Navigation Services for the 
Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to 
Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum 
Operational Network),'' published in the Federal Register of July 26, 
2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. Although the VOR portions 
of the Ely and Hayward VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) NAVAIDs 
are planned for decommissioning, the DME portions are being retained. 
The ATS routes impacted by the Ely and Hayward VORs are VOR Federal 
airways V-148, V-177, and V-345.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Ely and Hayward VORs, the 
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the Ely, MN, and Hayward, WI, 
areas is insufficient to enable the continuity of the affected airways. 
As such, the proposed modification to V-148 would result in a gap in 
the airway between the next NAVAIDs beyond the Hayward VOR; the 
proposed modification to V-345 would result in the airway ending at the 
NAVAID prior to the Hayward VOR; and V-177 would be removed entirely. 
To overcome the loss of the airway segments proposed to be removed, 
instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent VOR Federal 
airways V-26 and V-129 between the Wausau, WI, VOR/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) and the Duluth, MN, VORTAC or VOR Federal airways 
V-78 and V-413 between the Gopher, MN, VORTAC and the Ironwood, MI, 
VOR/DME to circumnavigate the affected area. Additionally, IFR traffic 
could file point to point through the affected area using fixes that 
will remain in place, or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar 
vectors through the area. Visual flight rules pilots who elect to 
navigate via the airways through the affected area could also take 
advantage of the adjacent VOR Federal airways or ATC services listed 
previously.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify VOR Federal airways V-148 and V-
144, and remove VOR Federal airway V-177. The planned decommissioning 
of the Ely, MN, and Hayward, WI, VORs has made these actions necessary. 
The proposed VOR Federal airway changes are outlined below.
    V-148: V-148 currently extends between the Falcon, CO, VORTAC and 
the Houghton, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Gopher, MN, VORTAC and the Ironwood, MI, VOR/DME. 
The unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-177: V-177 currently extends between the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME and 
the Ely, MN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its 
entirety.

[[Page 34080]]

    V-345: V-345 currently extends between the Dells, WI, VORTAC and 
the Hayward, WI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Eau Claire, WI, VORTAC and the Hayward, WI, VOR/DME. The 
unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    All radials in the route descriptions below are unchanged and 
stated in True degrees.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
7400.11C dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, 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 7400.11C, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and 
effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-148 [Amended]

    From Falcon, CO; Thurman, CO; 65 MSL INT Thurman 067[deg] and 
Hayes Center, NE, 246[deg] radials; Hayes Center; North Platte, NE; 
O'Neill, NE; Sioux Falls, SD; Redwood Falls, MN; to Gopher, MN. From 
Ironwood, MI; to Houghton, MI.
* * * * *

V-177 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-345 [Amended]

    From Dells, WI; INT Dells 321[deg] and Eau Claire, WI, 134[deg] 
radials; to Eau Claire.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 8, 2019.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2019-15104 Filed 7-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P