[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10052-10053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03280]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0799; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-13]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-71 
and Area Navigation Route T-285 Due to the Decommissioning of the 
Winner, SD, VOR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 
airway V-71 and area navigation (RNAV) route T-285. The FAA is taking 
this action due to the planned decommissioning of the Winner, SD (ISD), 
VOR navigation aid (NAVAID). The Winner VOR is being decommissioned in 
support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, May 21, 2020. 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 https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can 
contact the Rules and Regulations 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: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, 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 
National Airspace System as necessary to preserve the safe and 
efficient flow of air traffic.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0799 in the Federal Register (84 FR 64795; November 25, 2019) 
amending VOR Federal airway V-71 and RNAV route T-285. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were received.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) and RNAV T-
routes are published in paragraph 6011 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 ATS routes listed in this document 
would be subsequently published in the Order.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

Differences From the NPRM

    In the NPRM proposal section addressing the proposed amendment to 
RNAV route T-285 and in the regulatory text section describing T-285, 
the North Platte, NE, NAVAID was identified as a VORTAC, in error. The 
North Platte, NE, NAVAID is a VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) facility. This rule corrects that editorial error in the rule 
section and regulatory text.
    Also in the NPRM proposal section, one of the proposed amendments 
to T-285 indicated that the Rapid City VORTAC ``RAP'' identifier would 
be added to the first line of the route description. This too was in 
error and should have stated the North Platte, NE, VOR/DME ``LBF'' 
identifier would be added. The regulatory text for the T-285 
description correctly indicated ``North Platte, NE (LBF)'' in the first 
line of the description as was intended. This rule corrects that 
editorial error in the rule section.
    These editorial corrections do not change the route's structure, 
operational use, or charted depiction, and are consistent with the 
proposed amendments to T-285.

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

    The FAA is amending Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by modifying VOR Federal airway V-71

[[Page 10053]]

by removing an airway segment, and RNAV route T-285 by replacing the 
Winner VOR route point with a newly established waypoint. The planned 
decommissioning of the Winner, SD, VOR has made this action necessary. 
The air traffic service (ATS) route actions are described below.
    V-71: V-71 extends between the Fighting Tiger, LA, VORTAC and the 
Williston, ND, VOR/DME NAVAIDs. The airway segment between the O'Neill, 
NE, VORTAC and the Pierre, SD, VORTAC is removed. The unaffected 
portions of the existing airway remain as charted.
    T-285: T-285 extends between the North Platte, NE, VOR/DME and the 
Huron, SD, VORTAC NAVAIDs. The Winner, SD, VOR route point is replaced 
with the new LESNR waypoint established overhead the Winner VOR 
location. Additionally, the North Platte VOR/DME ``LBF'' identifier and 
Huron VORTAC ``HON'' identifier are added to the first line of the 
route description and the geographic coordinates of each route point 
are updated to be expressed in degrees, minutes, seconds, and 
hundredths of a second. The existing route remains as charted.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the V-71 airway description below are 
unchanged and stated in True degrees.

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 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 airspace action of amending ATS 
routes V-71 and T-285 due to the planned decommissioning of the Winner, 
SD, VOR has no potential to cause any significant environmental 
impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant 
preparation of an environmental assessment. Therefore, this airspace 
action has been categorically excluded from further environmental 
impact review in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR parts 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 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).

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 7400.11D, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and 
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-71 [Amended]

    From Fighting Tiger, LA; Natchez, MS; Monroe, LA; El Dorado, AR; 
Hot Springs, AR; INT Hot Springs 358[deg] and Harrison, AR, 176[deg] 
radials; Harrison; Springfield, MO; Butler, MO; Topeka, KS; Pawnee 
City, NE; INT Pawnee City 334[deg] and Lincoln, NE, 146[deg] 
radials; Lincoln; Columbus, NE; to O'Neill, NE. From Pierre, SD; 
Bismarck, ND; to Williston, ND.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-285 North Platte, NE (LBF) to Huron, SD (HON) [Amended]
 
North Platte, NE (LBF)          VOR/DME            (Lat. 41[deg]02'55.34'' N, long. 100[deg]44'49.55'' W)
Thedford, NE (TDD)              VOR/DME            (Lat. 41[deg]58'53.99'' N, long. 100[deg]43'08.55'' W)
MARSS, NE                       Fix                (Lat. 42[deg]27'48.92'' N, long. 100[deg]36'15.32'' W)
Valentine, NE (VTN)             NDB                (Lat. 42[deg]51'41.85'' N, long. 100[deg]32'58.73'' W)
LKOTA, SD                       WP                 (Lat. 43[deg]15'28.00'' N, long. 100[deg]03'14.00'' W)
LESNR, SD                       WP                 (Lat. 43[deg]29'16.06'' N, long. 99[deg]45'41.55'' W)
Huron, SD (HON)                 VORTAC             \(Lat. 44[deg]26'24.30'' N, long. 98[deg]18'39.89'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 12, 2020.
Mark Gauch,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-03280 Filed 2-20-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P