[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 153 (Friday, August 7, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47928-47931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17278]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0642; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWP-98]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of V-25, V-27, V-494, V-108, V-301, and T-257 
in the Vicinity of Santa Rosa, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways V-25, V-27, V-494, V-108, V-301, and United States Area 
Navigation route T-257 in the vicinity of Santa Rosa, CA. The 
amendments are due to the planned decommissioning of the Santa Rosa, CA 
VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) navigation aid (NAVAID) which 
provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected airways. The 
Santa Rosa VOR/DME is 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.

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: 
1(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0642; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWP-98 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: Christopher McMullin, 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 National Airspace System as necessary 
to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

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-2020-0642; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWP-98) 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-2020-0642; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWP-98.'' 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, Western 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA 98198.

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 to decommission the Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME in 
December 2020. The Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME was one of the candidate VORs 
identified for discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON

[[Page 47929]]

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.
    The Federal airway dependencies to the Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME are 
V-25, V-27, V-494, V-108, V-301, and T-257. With the planned 
decommissioning of the Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME, the proposed 
modifications to the dependent airways would result in airway segments 
supported by the Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME being amended. The intersection 
GETER will be amended utilizing radials from the Point Reyes and 
Mendocino VORs. The amended intersection will slightly change the 
placement by .21 Nautical Miles (NM) to the east of the current 
location. A new intersection (ROZZA) will be established at the current 
location and coordinates of the Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME, and the 
effected airways (V-494, V-108, and V-301) legal descriptions will be 
updated to reflect the change. The new ROZZA intersection forced a 
slight change to GETER since pilots only have one navigational aid 
(Mendocino, CA) to navigate to ROZZA on V-494, which will also affect 
the position of FREES intersection. These intersections will be 
redefined and relocated, which will effect V-27, V-494, and T-257.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend Federal airways V-25, V-27, V-
494, V-108, V-301, and T-257 due to the planned decommissioning of the 
Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME. The proposed Federal airway actions are 
described below.
    V-25: V-25 currently extends between Mission Bay, CA and Wenatchee, 
WA. The FAA proposes to amend V-25 to reflect the new description of 
GETER intersection. GETER intersection will be redefined by deleting 
the Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME references and using radials from Point 
Reyes and Mendocino VORs. The unaffected portions of the existing 
airway would remain as charted.
    V-27: V-27 currently extends between Mission Bay, CA and Seattle, 
WA. The FAA proposes to amend the description of GETER intersection to 
reflect the deletion of Santa Rosa, CA references and include new 
references using radials from Point Reyes, CA and Mendocino, CA VORs. 
The unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-494: V-494 currently extends from Crescent City, CA to Hazen, NV. 
The FAA proposes to amend the legal description by removing the 
reference to the Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME and establishing an 
intersection (ROZZA) utilizing radials from Point Reyes, CA VOR/DME and 
Scaggs Island, CA VOR Collocated Tactical Air Navigation System 
(VORTAC). The unaffected portion of the existing airway would remain as 
charted.
    V-108: V-108 currently extends from Santa Rosa, CA to Hill City, 
KS. The FAA proposes to amend the route removing references to the 
Santa Rosa, CA VOR/DME and referring to the newly established ROZZA 
intersection utilizing radials from Point Reyes, CA VOR/DME and Scaggs 
Island, CA VORTAC. The unaffected portion of the existing airway would 
remain as charted.
    V-301: V-301 currently extends from Panoche, CA to Williams, CA. 
The FAA proposes to amend the route, removing references to the Santa 
Rosa, CA VOR/DME and referring to the newly established ROZZA 
intersection utilizing radials from Point Reyes, CA VOR/DME and Scaggs 
Island, CA VORTAC. The unaffected portion of the existing airway would 
remain as charted.
    T-257: T-257 currently extends from Ventura, CA to Tatoosh, WA. The 
FAA proposes to amend the route to reflect the amended location of 
FREES due to the relocation on GETER. The unaffected portion of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) and United 
States Area Navigation 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.

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-25 [Amended]

    From Mission Bay, CA, via Los Angeles, CA; INT Los Angeles 
261[deg] and Ventura, CA, 144[deg] radials; 6 miles wide, Ventura; 
San Marcus, CA; Paso Robles, CA; Salinas, CA; INT Salinas 310[deg] 
and Woodside, CA, 158[deg] radials; Woodside; San Francisco, CA; INT 
San Francisco 304[deg] and Point Reyes, CA, 161[deg] radials; Point 
Reyes; INT Point Reyes 352[deg] (T) 335 (M) and Mendocino, CA, 
146[deg] (T) 130[deg] (M) radials; 28 miles, 24 miles, 85 MSL, 18 
miles, 75 MSL, Red Bluff, CA; 53 miles, 95 MSL, INT Red Bluff 
015[deg] and Klamath Falls, OR, 181[deg] radials; 19 miles, 95 MSL, 
Klamath Falls; 21 miles, 77 miles, 90 MSL, Deschutes, OR; Klickitat, 
WA; Yakima, WA; Ellensburg, WA; Wenatchee, WA. The

[[Page 47930]]

airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States and the 
airspace more than 3 miles NE of the airway centerline between Seal 
Beach and INT of Seal Beach 287[deg] and Los Angeles 138[deg] 
radials is excluded. The airspace within R-2511 and W-289 is 
excluded. The airspace within R-2519 more than 3 statute miles west 
of the airway centerline, and the airspace within R-2519 below 5,000 
feet MSL is excluded. The portion outside the United States has no 
upper limit.
* * * * *

V-27 [Amended]

    From Mission Bay, CA, INT Mission Bay 319[deg] and Santa 
Catalina, CA, 099[deg] radials; Santa Catalina; 6 miles wide, 
Ventura, CA; INT Ventura 326[deg] and Fillmore, CA, 265[deg] 
radials; INT Fillmore 265[deg] and Gaviota, CA, 143[deg] radials; 
Gaviota; Morro Bay, CA; INT Morro Bay 308[deg] and Big Sur, CA, 
157[deg] radials; Big Sur; INT Big Sur 325[deg] and Point Reyes, CA, 
161[deg] radials; Point Reyes; INT Point Reyes 352[deg] (T) 335[deg] 
(M) and Mendocino, CA, 146[deg] (T) 130[deg] (M) radials; Mendocino; 
Fortuna, CA; Crescent City, CA; 31 miles, 32 miles, 59 MSL, North 
Bend, OR; Newport, OR; 39 miles, 30 miles, 45 MSL, Astoria, OR; 
Hoquiam, WA; Seattle, WA. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside 
the United States between San Diego and Santa Catalina, the airspace 
within R-2516 and W-289, the airspace within R-2519 more than 3 
statute miles west of the airway centerline, and the airspace within 
R-2519 below 5,000 feet MSL, is excluded. The portion outside the 
United States has no upper limit.
* * * * *

V-494 [Amended]

    From Crescent City, CA, via INT Crescent City 195[deg] and 
Fortuna, CA, 345[deg] radials; Fortuna; INT Fortuna 170[deg] and 
Mendocino, CA 321[deg] radials,; INT Point Reyes, CA 006[deg] (T) 
349[deg] (M) and Scaggs Island, CA 314[deg] (T) 297[deg] (M) 
radials; Sacramento, CA; INT Sacramento 038[deg] and Squaw Valley, 
CA, 249[deg] radials; Squaw Valley; INT Squaw Valley 078[deg] and 
Hazen, NV, 244[deg] radials; Hazen.
* * * * *

V-108 [Amended]

    From INT Point Reyes 006[deg] (T) 349[deg] (M) and Scaggs Island 
314[deg] (T) 297[deg] (M) radials, via Scaggs Island, CA; INT Scaggs 
Island 131[deg]. and Concord, CA, 276[deg]. radials; 7 miles wide (4 
miles N. and 3 miles S. of centerline), Concord; Linden, CA. From 
Meeker, CO; via Red Table, CO; Black Forest, CO; Hugo, CO; 74 miles, 
65 MSL, Goodland, KS; Hill City, KS.
* * * * *

V-301 [Amended]

    From Panoche, CA; via INT Panoche 317[deg] and Oakland, CA, 
110[deg] radials; Oakland; Point Reyes, CA; INT Point Reyes 006[deg] 
(T) 349[deg] (M) and Scaggs Island 314[deg] (T) 297[deg] (M); 
Williams, CA.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-257 Ventura, CA (VTU) to Tatoosh, WA (TOU) [Amended]
Ventura, CA (VTU)                VOR/DME            (Lat. 34[deg]06'54.21'' N, long. 119[deg]02'58.17'' W)
San Marcus, CA (RZS)             VORTAC             (Lat. 34[deg]30'34.32'' N, long. 119[deg]46'15.57'' W)
Morro Bay, CA (MQO)              VORTAC             (Lat. 35[deg]15'08.12'' N, long. 120[deg]45'34.44'' W)
BLANC, CA                        FIX                (Lat. 35[deg]37'53.19'' N, long. 121[deg]21'23.04'' W)
CAATE, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 36[deg]46'32.29'' N, long. 122[deg]04'09.57'' W)
CHAWZ, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]06'48.59'' N, long. 122[deg]21'09.58'' W)
PORTE, CA                        NFIX               (Lat. 37[deg]29'23.23'' N, long. 122[deg]28'28.48'' W)
THHEO, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]44'54.55'' N, long. 122[deg]36'54.79'' W)
JAMIN, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]51'16.99'' N, long. 122[deg]40'12.05'' W)
Point Reyes, CA (PYE)            VORTAC             (Lat. 38[deg]04'47.12'' N, long. 122[deg]52'04.18'' W)
FREES, CA                        FIX                (Lat. 38[deg]23'13.59'' N, long. 122[deg]55'20.56'' W)
NACKI, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]43'47.73'' N, long. 123[deg]05'52.93'' W)
Mendocino, CA (ENT)              VORTAC             (Lat. 39[deg]03'11.58'' N, long. 123[deg]16'27.58'' W)
FLUEN, CA                        FIX                (Lat. 39[deg]32'47.92'' N, long. 123[deg]33'42.75'' W)
PLYAT, CA                        FIX                (Lat. 40[deg]20'20.90'' N, long. 123[deg]41'35.88'' W)
CCHUK, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 40[deg]31'42.18'' N, long. 124[deg]04'16.08'' W)
SCUPY, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 40[deg]55'23.94'' N, long. 124[deg]18'09.85'' W)
OLJEK, CA                        FIX                (Lat. 41[deg]28'30.66'' N, long. 124[deg]14'20.68'' W)
CIGCA, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 41[deg]36'39.60'' N, long. 124[deg]17'27.58'' W)
FURNS, CA                        WP                 (Lat. 41[deg]55'15.86'' N, long. 124[deg]26'09.40'' W)
MITUE, OR                        FIX                (Lat. 43[deg]18'49.00'' N, long. 124[deg]30'22.74'' W)
JANAS, OR                        FIX                (Lat. 44[deg]17'33.63'' N, long. 124[deg]05'14.25'' W)
Newport, OR (ONP)                VORTAC             (Lat. 44[deg]34'31.26'' N, long. 124[deg]03'38.14'' W)
CUTEL, OR                        FIX                (Lat. 44[deg]54'27.50'' N, long. 124[deg]01'25.30'' W)
ILWAC, WA                        FIX                (Lat. 46[deg]19'46.62'' N, long. 124[deg]10'49.49'' W)
ZEDAT, WA                        FIX                (Lat. 46[deg]35'50.64'' N, long. 124[deg]10'01.14'' W)
WAVLU, WA                        FIX                (Lat. 46[deg]50'00.90'' N, long. 124[deg]06'35.70'' W)
Hoquiam, WA (HQM)                VORTAC             (Lat. 46[deg]56'49.35'' N, long. 124[deg]08'57.37'' W)
COPLS, WA                        WP                 (Lat. 47[deg]06'46.78'' N, long. 124[deg]07'40.80'' W)
WAPTO, WA                        FIX                (Lat. 47[deg]28'19.54'' N, long. 124[deg]13'50.38'' W)
OZETT, WA                        WP                 (Lat. 48[deg]03'07.00'' N, long. 124[deg]35'54.42'' W)
Tatoosh, WA (TOU)                VORTAC             (Lat. 48[deg]17'59.64'' N, long. 124[deg]37'37.36'' W)
 


[[Page 47931]]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 4, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-17278 Filed 8-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P