[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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