[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 82 (Tuesday, April 28, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23454-23456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08947]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0850; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-17]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Multiple Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes; Western 
United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends three domestic VHF Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal airways (V-113, V-137, and V-485) in the Western United 
States. The modifications are necessary due to the planned 
decommissioning of Priest, CA, VOR navigation aid (NAVAID), which 
provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected air traffic 
service (ATS) routes. The Priest, CA, VOR is being decommissioned as 
part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, July 16, 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 http://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

[[Page 23455]]

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, 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 supports amending the air traffic service route 
structure in the western United States to maintain the efficient flow 
of air traffic.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register for Docket No. FAA-2018-0850 (83 FR 63603; December 11, 2018), 
amending three Domestic VOR Federal airways (V-113, V-1137 and V-485) 
in the Western United States. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal. No comments were received.
    Domestic 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 Domestic 
VOR Federal airways 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.

Differences From the NPRM

    The NPRM stated V-113 would remain unchanged after the Panoche, CA, 
VORTAC. The proposed new route in the NPRM inadvertently left out a 
portion of the route after the Panoche, CA, VORTCAC before the Linden, 
CA, VOR/DME due to a clerical error. The portion is reinserted back 
into the ATS route for continuity of the ATS route. The amended portion 
after Panoche, CA, is ``intersection Modesto 208[deg] and El Nido 
298[deg] radials (PATYY intersection) to Modesto, CA, VOR/DME'' and 
then tie back into the Linden, CA, VOR/DME.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by amending domestic VOR Federal airways V-113, V-137 and V-
485. The route changes are outlined below.
    V-113: V-113 is amended between the Paso Robles, CA, VORTAC and the 
Panoche, CA, VORTAC causing a gap in the route. The new route stops at 
the Paso Robles, CA, VORTAC and resumes at the Panoche, CA, VORTAC. The 
unaffected portion of the existing route will remain as charted and as 
outlined in the differences to the NPRM.
    V-137: V-137 is amended between the Avenal, CA, VOR/DME and the 
Salinas, CA, VORTAC. The new route will end at the Avenal, CA, VOR/DME. 
The unaffected portion of the existing route will remain as charted.
    V-485: V-485 is amended between the Fellows, CA, VOR/DME and the 
San Jose, CA, VOR/DME. The new route will end at the Fellows, CA, VOR/
DME. The unaffected portion of the existing route will remain as 
charted.
    All radials in the route descriptions are unchanged and stated in 
True degrees.

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 amending three Domestic 
VOR Federal airways (V-113, V-137 and V-485) 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 cause any potentially significant environmental 
impacts. 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).

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

[[Page 23456]]

effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a)--Domestic VOR Federal Airways

V-113 [Amended]

    From Morro Bay, CA; to Paso Robles, CA. From Panoche, CA.; INT 
Modesto 208[deg] and El Nido 298[deg] radials; Modesto, CA; Linden, 
CA; INT Linden 046[deg] and Mustang, NV, 208[deg] radials; Mustang; 
42 miles, 24 miles, 115 MSL, 95 MSL, Sod House, NV; 67 miles, 95 
MSL, 85 MSL, Rome, OR; 61 miles, 85 MSL, Boise, ID; Salmon, ID; 
Coppertown, MT; Helena, MT; to Lewistown, MT.
* * * * *

V-137 [Amended]

    From Mexicali, Mexico; via Imperial, CA; INT Imperial 350[deg] 
and Thermal, CA 144[deg] radials; Palm Springs, CA; Palmdale, CA; 
Gorman, CA; Avenal, CA. The airspace within Mexico is excluded.
* * * * *

V-485 [Amended]

    From Ventura, CA to Fellows, CA. The airspace within W-289 and 
R-2519 more than three (3) statute miles west of the airway 
centerline and the airspace within R-2519 below 5,000 feet MSL is 
excluded.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-08947 Filed 4-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P