[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 5, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47317-47321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16920]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0667; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-24]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Multiple Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes 
in the Northcentral United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend nine VHF Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal airways, V-15, V-26, V-55, V-78, V-100, V-159, V-175, V-
219, and V-307, and two Area Navigation (RNAV) routes, T-285 and T-354, 
in the Northcentral United States. The modifications are necessary due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Park Rapids, 
MN, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME); Sioux City, IA, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC); and Huron, SD, VORTAC navigation aids 
(NAVAIDs). The NAVAIDs provide navigation guidance for segments of the 
affected air traffic service (ATS) routes. The VORs are being 
decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network 
(MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 21, 2020.

[[Page 47318]]


ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0667; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-24 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov. 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 would modify the route structure as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National 
Airspace System (NAS).

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.
    Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0667; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-24) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2020-0667; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-24.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date will be considered before taking action on the proposed 
rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment 
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the office of the Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Blvd., 
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend 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.

Background

    The FAA is planning decommissioning activities for the VOR portion 
of the Park Rapids, MN, VOR/DME; Sioux City, IA, VORTAC; and Huron, SD, 
VORTAC in February, 2021. The VOR portion of the Park Rapids, MN; Sioux 
City, IA; and Huron, SD, NAVAIDs are candidate VORs identified for 
discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON program and listed in the final 
policy statement notice, ``Provision of Navigation Services for the 
Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to 
Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum 
Operational Network),'' published in the Federal Register of July 26, 
2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Park Rapids, MN; Sioux City, IA; 
and Huron, SD, NAVAIDs are planned for decommissioning, the co-located 
DME portion of the NAVAIDs are being retained to support NextGen PBN 
flight procedure requirements.
    The ATS route dependencies to the Park Rapids VOR/DME are VOR 
Federal airways V-55, V-175, and RNAV route T-354. Similarly, the ATS 
route dependencies to the Sioux City VORTAC are VOR Federal airways V-
15, V-100, V-159, V-175, V-219, and V-307. Lastly, the ATS route 
dependencies to the Huron VORTAC are VOR Federal airways V-15, V-26, V-
78, V-159, and RNAV route T-285.
    With the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Park 
City, MN; Sioux City, IA; and Huron, SD, NAVAIDs, the remaining ground-
based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of the affected VOR Federal airways. As such, proposed 
modifications to the affected airways would result in gaps in those 
airways or the airways being shortened. To overcome the airway gaps or 
lost airway segments at the end of an airway, instrument flight rules 
(IFR) traffic could use adjacent ATS routes, including V-24, V-80, V-
120, V-129,

[[Page 47319]]

V-148, V-170, V-171, V-181, V-218, V-263, V-398, V-410, V-430, T-330, 
T-354, and T-383, or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors to 
fly through or circumnavigate the affected area. Additionally, IFR 
pilots equipped with RNAV PBN capabilities could also navigate point to 
point using the existing fixes that will remain in place to support 
continued operations though the affected area. Visual flight rules 
(VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the airways through the affected 
area could also take advantage of the adjacent VOR Federal airways or 
ATC services listed previously.
    Further, the FAA proposes to retain RNAV routes T-285 and T-354 as 
they are charted today, with a route segment added to extend T-354 
northwestward between the BYZIN, ND, waypoint and the Park Rapids, MN, 
VOR/DME facility to join T-330 at the BYZIN waypoint. The added route 
segment would provide enroute structure between the Park Rapids VOR/DME 
and the Grand Forks VOR/DME, as well as support ongoing FAA NextGen 
efforts to transition the NAS to performance-based navigation. Minor 
editorial amendments to the existing T-285 and T-354 descriptions would 
reflect the Park Rapids, MN (PKD), and Huron, SD (HON), route points as 
``DME'' facilities due to the VOR portion of the NAVAIDs being 
decommissioned.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by modifying VOR Federal airways V-15, V-
26, V-55, V-78, V-100, V-159, V-175, V-219, and V-307, and RNAV routes 
T-285 and T-354. The planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Park Rapids, MN, VOR/DME; Sioux City, IA, VORTAC; and Huron, SD, VORTAC 
NAVAIDs has made this action necessary. The proposed VOR Federal airway 
changes are outlined below.
    V-15: V-15 currently extends between the Navasota, TX, VOR/DME and 
the Bonham, TX, VORTAC; between the Okmulgee, OK, VOR/DME and the 
Neosho, MO, VOR/DME; and between the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC and the 
Minot, ND, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Sioux City, IA, and Huron, SD, VORTACs between the Sioux 
City, IA, VORTAC and the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions 
of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-26: V-26 currently extends between the Blue Mesa, CO, VOR/DME and 
the White Cloud, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Huron, SD, VORTAC between the Pierre, SD, VORTAC 
and the Redwood Falls, MN, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-55: V-55 currently extends between the Dayton, OH, VOR/DME and 
the intersection of the Green Bay, WI, VORTAC 270[deg] and Oshkosh, WI, 
VORTAC 339[deg] radials (BIPID fix); and between the Park Rapids, MN, 
VOR/DME and the Bismarck, ND, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway segment overlying the Park Rapids, MN, VOR/DME between the Park 
Rapids, MN, VOR/DME and the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME. Additional 
changes to other portions of the airway have been proposed in a 
separate NPRM. The unaffected portions of the existing airway would 
remain as charted.
    V-78: V-78 currently extends between the Huron, SD, VORTAC and the 
Escanaba, MI, VOR/DME; and between the Pellston, MI, VORTAC and the 
Saginaw, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Huron, SD, VORTAC between the Huron, SD, VORTAC and the 
Watertown, SD, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
would remain as charted.
    V-100: V-100 currently extends between the Medicine Bow, WY, VOR/
DME and the Litchfield, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway segment overlying the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC between the 
O'Neill, NE, VORTAC and the Fort Dodge, IA, VORTAC. The unaffected 
portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-159: V-159 currently extends between the Virginia Key, FL, VOR/
DME and the Vulcan, AL, VORTAC; and between the Holly Springs, MS, 
VORTAC and the Huron, SD, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Sioux City, IA, and Huron, SD, VORTACs between 
the Omaha, IA, VORTAC and the Huron, SD, VORTAC. The unaffected 
portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-175: V-175 currently extends between the Malden, MO, VORTAC and 
the Winnipeg, MB, Canada, VORTAC. The airspace within Canada is 
excluded. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment overlying the 
Sioux City, IA, VORTAC between the Des Moines, IA, VORTAC and the 
Worthington, MN, VOR/DME; and remove the airway segment overlying the 
Park Rapids, MN, VOR/DME between the Alexandria, MN, VOR/DME and the 
Winnipeg, MB, Canada, VORTAC. The exclusion statement for the airspace 
within Canada would also be removed. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-219: V-219 currently extends between the Hayes Center, NE, VORTAC 
and the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC between the Norfolk, NE, 
VOR/DME and the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-307: V-307 currently extends between the Harrison, AR, VOR/DME 
and the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC between the Omaha, IA, 
VORTAC and the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    The proposed RNAV route changes are outlined below.
    T-285: T-285 currently extends between the North Platte, NE, VOR/
DME and the Huron, SD, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to change the Huron, SD 
(HON) route point from being listed as ``VORTAC'' to ``DME''. The 
existing RNAV route would remain as charted.
    T-354: T-354 currently extends between the Park Rapids, MN, VOR/DME 
and the Siren, WI, DME. The FAA proposes to change the Park Rapids, MN 
(PKD), route point from being listed as ``VOR/DME'' to ``DME'' and add 
a route segment between the BYZIN, ND, waypoint and the Park Rapids, 
MN, DME facility. The added segment would extend T-354 northwestward to 
join T-330 at the BYZIN waypoint and provide enroute structure between 
the Park Rapids VOR/DME and the Grand Forks VOR/DME that would be 
removed by the proposed V-55 amendment above. Additional changes to the 
route have been proposed in a separate NPRM. The existing RNAV route 
would remain as charted with the addition of the route segment proposed 
between the BYZIN, ND, waypoint and the Park Rapids, MN, DME.
    All NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway descriptions 
below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    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

[[Page 47320]]

published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 will only affect air traffic 
procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed rule, 
when promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 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-15 [Amended]

    From Navasota, TX; College Station, TX; Waco, TX; Cedar Creek, 
TX; to Bonham, TX. From Okmulgee, OK; to Neosho, MO. From Aberdeen, 
SD; Bismarck, ND; to Minot, ND.
* * * * *

V-26 [Amended]

    From Blue Mesa, CO; Montrose, CO; 13 miles 112 MSL, 131 MSL, 
Grand Junction, CO; Meeker, CO; Cherokee, WY; Muddy Mountain, WY; 14 
miles, 37 miles 75 MSL, 84 miles 90 MSL, Rapid City, SD; Philip, SD; 
to Pierre, SD. From Redwood Falls, MN; Farmington, MN; Eau Claire, 
WI; Wausau, WI; Green Bay, WI; INT Green Bay 116[deg] and White 
Cloud, MI, 302[deg] radials; to White Cloud.
* * * * *

V-55 [Amended]

    From Dayton, OH; Fort Wayne, IN; Goshen, IN; Gipper, MI; Keeler, 
MI; Pullman, MI; Muskegon, MI; INT Muskegon 327[deg] and Green Bay, 
WI, 116[deg] radials; Green Bay; to INT Green Bay 270[deg] and 
Oshkosh, WI, 339[deg] radials. From Grand Forks, ND; INT Grand Forks 
239[deg] and Bismarck, ND, 067[deg] radials; to Bismarck.
* * * * *

V-78 [Amended]

    From Watertown, SD; Darwin, MN; Gopher, MN; INT Gopher 091[deg] 
and Eau Claire, WI, 290[deg] radials; Eau Claire; Rhinelander, WI; 
Iron Mountain, MI; to Escanaba, MI. From Pellston, MI; Alpena, MI; 
INT Alpena 232[deg] and Saginaw, MI, 353[deg] radials; to Saginaw.
* * * * *

V-100 [Amended]

    From Medicine Bow, WY; Scottsbluff, NE; Alliance, NE; Ainsworth, 
NE; to O'Neill, NE. From Fort Dodge, IA; Waterloo, IA; Dubuque, IA; 
Rockford, IL; INT Rockford 074[deg] and Janesville, WI, 112[deg] 
radials; INT Janesville 112[deg] and Northbrook, IL, 291[deg] 
radials; Northbrook; INT Northbrook 095[deg] and Keeler, MI, 
271[deg] radials; Keeler; to Litchfield, MI.
* * * * *

V-159 [Amended]

    From Virginia Key, FL; INT Virginia Key 344[deg] and Treasure, 
FL, 178[deg] radials; Treasure; INT Treasure 318[deg] and Orlando, 
FL, 140[deg] radials; Orlando; Ocala, FL; Cross City, FL; 
Greenville, FL; Pecan, GA; Eufaula, AL; Tuskegee, AL; to Vulcan, AL. 
From Holly Springs, MS; Gilmore, AR; Walnut Ridge, AR; Dogwood, MO; 
Springfield, MO; Napoleon, MO; INT Napoleon 005[deg] and St. Joseph, 
MO, 122[deg] radials; St. Joseph; to Omaha, IA.
* * * * *

V-175 [Amended]

    From Malden, MO; Vichy, MO; Hallsville, MO; Macon, MO; 
Kirksville, MO; to Des Moines, IA. From Worthington, MN; Redwood 
Falls, MN; to Alexandria, MN.
* * * * *

V-219 [Amended]

    From Hayes Center, NE; INT Hayes Center 059[deg] and Wolbach, 
NE, 251[deg] radials; Wolbach; to Norfolk, NE.
* * * * *

V-307 [Amended]

    From Harrison, AR; Neosho, MO; Oswego, KS; Chanute, KS; Emporia, 
KS; INT Emporia 336[deg] and Pawnee City, NE, 194[deg] radials; 
Pawnee City; to Omaha, IA.
* * * * *

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. 099[deg]45'41.55'' W).
Huron, SD (HON).............................   DME.......................  (Lat. 44[deg]26'24.30'' N, long. 098[deg]18'39.89'' W).
 

T-354 BYZIN, MN to Siren, WI (RZN) [Amended]

 
 
 
BYZIN, MN...................................  WP.........................  (Lat. 47[deg]29'03.97'' N, long. 096[deg]13'28.09'' W).
Park Rapids, MN (PKD).......................  DME........................  (Lat. 46[deg]53'53.34'' N, long. 095[deg]04'15.21'' W).
BRNRD, MN...................................  WP.........................  (Lat. 46[deg]20'53.81'' N, long. 094[deg]01'33.54'' W).
Siren, WI (RZN).............................  DME........................  (Lat. 45[deg]49'13.60'' N, long. 092[deg]22'28.26'' W).
 


[[Page 47321]]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 29, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-16920 Filed 8-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P