[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51964-51965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21193]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0267; Airspace Docket No. 18-ANM-8]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes Q-121 and Q-156; Miles
City, MT
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends the legal descriptions of area navigation
(RNAV) routes Q-121 and Q-156 by changing the name of one waypoint
common to each route. Specifically, this action changes the TOUGH
waypoint name to SWTHN in RNAV routes Q-121 and Q-156.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, December 5, 2019. 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 7400.11D, 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 7400.11D at NARA, email:
[email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
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 updates the legal descriptions of RNAV routes to avoid
the use of similar sounding waypoint names.
Background
RNAV routes Q-121 and Q-156 both include the waypoint TOUGH in
their descriptions. Q-156 also includes a waypoint named TUFFY.
Recently, with the extensive use of the routes, air traffic control
facilities have identified a problem whereby TOUGH is being confused
with TUFFY. To eliminate any confusion and enhance safety, the FAA is
changing the TOUGH waypoint name to SWTHN in the descriptions of both
Q-121 and Q-156. This action is a name change only. The geographic
position of the waypoint is not changing and the current alignments of
Q-121 and Q-156 are not affected.
United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph
2006, of FAA Order 7400.11D dated August 8, 2019, and effective
September 15, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1.
The RNAV route listed in this document will be subsequently published
in the Order.
FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is
published yearly and effective on September 15.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document amends FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15,
2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D 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 changing the TOUGH waypoint name in the descriptions of RNAV
routes Q-121 and Q-156 to SWTHN.
Since this action involves only editorial changes to the legal
descriptions of RNAV routes and does not change the dimensions or
operating requirements of the affected routes, I find that notice and
public procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) are unnecessary.
The RNAV route modifications accomplished by this action are
outlined below.
Q-121: Q-121 change the TOUGH waypoint name from ``TOUGH'' to
``SWTHN.''
Q-156: Q-156 change the TOUGH waypoint name from ``TOUGH'' to
``SWTHN.''
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
[[Page 51965]]
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 airspace action of modifying two
high altitude RNAV Q-routes by updating the waypoint name TOUGH to
SWTHN has no potential to cause any significant environmental impacts,
and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an
environmental assessment. Therefore, this proposed airspace action
qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental
Policy Act and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 1500-1508,
and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts:
Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically excludes
from further environmental impact review 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). 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 14 CFR 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 7400.11D,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.
Q-121 PARZZ, NV to SWTHN, MT [Amended]
PARZZ, NV WP (Lat. 41[deg]36'14.64'' N, long. 115[deg]02'09.69'' W)
Pocatello, ID (PIH) VOR/DME (Lat. 42[deg]52'13.38'' N, long. 112[deg]39'08.05'' W)
SWTHN, MT WP (Lat. 46[deg]13'58.39'' N, long. 105[deg]12'52.30'' W)
Q-156 AMDT STEVS, WA to ZZIPR, IA [Amended]
STEVS, WA WP (Lat. 47[deg]14'54.49'' N, long. 120[deg]32'09.93'' W)
ZAXUL, WA FIX (Lat. 47[deg]10'02.58'' N, long. 120[deg]02'41.75'' W)
FINUT, WA WP (Lat. 46[deg]44'56.48'' N, long. 117[deg]05'19.69'' W)
TUFFY, MT FIX (Lat. 46[deg]42'29.02'' N, long. 114[deg]05'01.34'' W)
UPUGE, MT FIX (Lat. 46[deg]38'04.56'' N, long. 112[deg]10'02.39'' W)
HEXOL, MT FIX (Lat. 46[deg]36'49.09'' N, long. 111[deg]09'20.70'' W)
SWTHN, MT WP (Lat. 46[deg]13'58.39'' N, long. 105[deg]12'52.30'' W)
JELRO, SD FIX (Lat. 45[deg]48'43.83'' N, long. 102[deg]51'46.96'' W)
KEKPE, SD WP (Lat. 45[deg]17'54.91'' N, long. 100[deg]16'49.04'' W)
UFFDA, MN WP (Lat. 44[deg]29'46.00'' N, long. 096[deg]05'25.00'' W)
HSTIN, MN WP (Lat. 44[deg]00'08.00'' N, long. 093[deg]57'40.00'' W)
ZZIPR, IA WP (Lat. 43[deg]11'09.00'' N, long. 091[deg]39'33.00'' W)
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 25, 2019.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2019-21193 Filed 9-30-19; 8:45 am]
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