[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 45 (Friday, March 6, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12998-12999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04422]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0665; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASO-7]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-56, and V-209 in the Vicinity
of Kewanee, MS
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action modifies VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal
airways V-56 and V-209, in the vicinity of Kewanee, MS. This action is
necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Kewanee, MS, VORTAC
navigation aid, which provides navigation guidance for segments of the
routes.
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 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: Paul Gallant, 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 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-2017-0665 in the Federal Register (82 FR 40737; August 28, 2017)
amending VOR Federal airways V-56, and V-209 due to the planned
decommissioning of the Kewanee, MS, VORTAC. Interested parties were
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written
comments on the proposal. One comment was received.
Discussion of Comment
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) stated that, when
VOR NAVAIDs are to be decommissioned and routes correspondingly
removed, the FAA should create an Area Navigation (RNAV) waypoint (WP)
at the previous NAVAID location, and retain all fixes and intersections
along the removed route by converting them to RNAV waypoints.
The FAA established the KWANE, MS, WP located near the current
location of the Kewanee VORTAC. In a separate rulemaking action, the
FAA established a new RNAV route, designated T-239 that replaces V-56
between Meridian, MS, and Montgomery, AL; and RNAV route T-292 that
replaces V-209 between the YARBO, AL, fix, and the EUTAW, AL, fix.
Selected fixes along the affected route sections are incorporated in T-
239 and T-292.
VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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 VOR Federal airways
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
The NPRM incorrectly listed the wrong location for the Kewannee
[[Page 12999]]
VORTAC; correct location is Kewannee, MS. The NPRM proposed to amend V-
56 by removing the airway segments between Meridian, MS, and Tuskegee,
AL. The FAA has decided to retain the segment between Montgomery, AL
and Tuskegee, AL in order to join T-290 at Montgomery.
The Rule
The FAA is amending Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
part 71 by modifying VOR Federal airways V-56 and V-209. The planned
decommissioning of the Kewanee, MS, VORTAC has made these actions
necessary. The VOR Federal airway changes are outlined below.
V-56: V-56 currently extends between the Meridian, MS, VORTAC and
the New Bern, NC, VOR/DME. This rule removes the airway segments
between the Meridian, MS, VORTAC and the Montgomery, AL, VOR/DME. As
amended, V-56 extends between Montgomery, AL, and New Bern, NC as
currently charted.
In a separate action, (84 FR 64989; November 26, 2019) the FAA
established RNAV route T-290 that extends between the HABJE, MS, fix
(west of the Meridian, MS, VORTAC) and the JACET, GA, waypoint. T-290
replaces V-56 between Meridian, MS, and Montgomery, AL.
V-209: V-209 currently extends between the Semmes, AL, VORTAC and
the Choo Choo, TN, VORTAC. This action removes the Kewanee, AL, VORTAC
from the route, resulting in a gap in the airway between the
intersection of the Semmes, AL, 356[deg] and Eaton, MS, 080[deg]
radials (i.e., the charted YARBO, AL, fix, located approximately 43 NM
north of Semmes, AL), and the intersection of the Bigbee, MS
139[deg](T)/135[deg](M) and Brookwood, AL 230[deg](T)/230[deg](M)
radials (i.e., the charted EUTAW, AL, fix, located approximately 41 NM
northeast of Kewanee). Therefore, the amended V-209 route consists of
two sections: first, between Semmes, AL, and the YARBO fix; and, after
the gap, V-209 resumes between the EUTAW fix to Choo Choo, TN as
currently charted.
In the above separate action, the FAA established RNAV route T-292
that extends between Semmes, AL, and the JACET, GA, WP. T-292 replaces
V-209 between the YARBO, AL, fix and the EUTAW, AL, fix.
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 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 action of modifying VOR Federal
airways V-56 and V-209 near Kewanee, MS, qualifies for categorical
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act and its
implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 1500, 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). As such, this action
is not expected to result in any potentially significant environmental
impacts. In accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding
Extraordinary Circumstances, the FAA has reviewed this action for
factors and circumstances in which a normally categorically excluded
action may have a significant environmental impact requiring further
analysis. The FAA has determined that no extraordinary circumstances
exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment or
environmental impact study.
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 7400.11D,
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-56 [Amended]
From Montgomery, AL; Tuskegee, AL; Columbus, GA; INT Columbus
087[deg] and Macon, GA, 266[deg] radials; Macon; Colliers, SC;
Columbia, SC; Florence, SC; Fayetteville, NC, 41 miles 15 MSL, INT
Fayetteville 098[deg] and New Bern, NC 256[deg] radials; to New
Bern.
V-209 [Amended]
From Semmes, AL, to INT Semmes 356[deg] and Eaton, MS, 080[deg]
radials. From INT Bigbee, MS 139[deg] and Brookwood, AL 230[deg]
radials; Brookwood; Vulcan, AL; INT Vulcan 097[deg] and Gadsden, AL,
233[deg] radials; Gadsden; INT Gadsden 042[deg] and Choo Choo, TN,
214[deg] radials; Choo Choo.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 25, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-04422 Filed 3-5-20; 8:45 am]
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