[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 238 (Thursday, December 10, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 79425-79427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26920]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0654; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-17]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of V-53, V-115, V-140, T-215, and T-323, and Revocation 
of V-339 in the Vicinity of Hazard, KY

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 
airways V-53, V-115, and V-140, and Area Navigation (RNAV) T-routes T-
215 and T-323; and removes VOR Federal airway V-339 in the vicinity of 
Hazard, KY. The Air Traffic Service (ATS) route modifications are 
necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Hazard, KY, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid 
(NAVAID) which provides navigation guidance for portions of the 
affected ATS routes. The Hazard VOR is being decommissioned as part of 
the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, February 25, 2021. 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 7400.11E, 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 7400.11E 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 route structure as necessary to preserve 
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace 
System.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0654 in the Federal Register (85 FR 44801; July 24, 2020), 
amending VOR Federal airways V-53, V-115, and V-140, and RNAV T-routes 
T-215 and T-323; and removing VOR Federal airway V-339 in the vicinity 
of Hazard, KY. The proposed amendment and revocation actions were due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hazard, KY, 
VOR/DME. 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 7400.11E dated July 
21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airways listed in this 
document will be subsequently published in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 
2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E 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 airways V-53, V-115, and V-140, and 
RNAV routes T-215 and T-323; and removing VOR Federal airway V-339. The 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hazard, KY, VOR/DME 
NAVAID has made this action necessary. The VOR Federal airway changes 
are outlined below.
    V-53: V-53 extends between the Charleston, SC, VOR/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) and the Brickyard, IN, VOR/DME. The airspace within 
R-3401B is excluded. The airway segment overlying the Hazard, KY, VOR/
DME between the Holston Mountain, TN, VORTAC and the Lexington, KY, 
VOR/DME is removed. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
remain as charted.
    V-115: V-115 extends between the Crestview, FL, VORTAC and the 
Parkersburg, WV, VORTAC. The airway segment overlying the Hazard, KY, 
VOR/DME between the Volunteer, TN, VORTAC and the Charleston, WV, 
VORTAC is removed. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
remain as charted.
    V-140: V-140 extends between the Panhandle, TX, VORTAC and the 
Casanova, VA, VORTAC. The airway segment overlying the Hazard, KY, VOR/
DME between the London, KY, VOR/DME and the Bluefield, WV, VOR/DME is 
removed. The unaffected portions of the existing airway remain as 
charted.
    V-339: V-339 extends between the Hazard, KY, VOR/DME and the 
Falmouth, KY, VOR/DME. The airway is removed in its entirety.
    The RNAV T-route changes are outlined below.
    T-215: T-215 extends between the Lexington, KY, VOR/DME and the 
GAMKE, IN, waypoint (WP). The route is extended southeastward from the 
Lexington, KY, VOR/DME to the Holston Mountain, TN, VORTAC. 
Additionally, the type of facility for Lexington, KY, is corrected from 
``VORTAC'' to ``VOR/DME'' and the geographic coordinates of each route 
point are updated to be expressed in degrees, minutes, seconds, and 
hundredths of a second.
    T-323: T-323 extends between the CROCS, GA, WP and the HIGGI, NC, 
WP. The route is extended northward from the HIGGI, NC, WP to the 
Hazard, KY, DME. Additionally, the geographic

[[Page 79426]]

coordinates of each route point are updated to be expressed in degrees, 
minutes, seconds, and hundredths of a second.
    All NAVAID radials in the VOR Federal airway descriptions below are 
unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    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 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 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

    The FAA has determined that this action of amending VOR Federal 
airways V-53, V-115, and V-140, and RNAV routes T-215 and T-323; and 
removing VOR Federal airway V-339, due to the planned decommissioning 
of the VOR portion of the Hazard, KY, VOR/DME NAVAID, 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).

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 7400.11E, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and 
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-53 [Amended]

    From Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC; Spartanburg, SC; Sugarloaf 
Mountain, NC; to Holston Mountain, TN. From Lexington, KY; 
Louisville, KY; INT Louisville 333[deg] and Brickyard, IN, 170[deg] 
radials; to Brickyard. The airspace within R-3401B is excluded.
* * * * *

V-115 [Amended]

    From Crestview, FL; INT Crestview 001[deg] and Montgomery, AL, 
204[deg] radials; Montgomery; INT Montgomery 323[deg] and Vulcan, 
AL, 177[deg] radials; Vulcan; Choo Choo, TN; to Volunteer, TN. From 
Charleston, WV; to Parkersburg, WV.
* * * * *

V-140 [Amended]

    From Panhandle, TX; Burns Flat, OK; Kingfisher, OK; INT 
Kingfisher 072[deg] and Tulsa, OK, 261[deg] radials; Tulsa; 
Razorback, AR; Harrison, AR; Walnut Ridge, AR; Dyersburg, TN; 
Nashville, TN; Livingston, TN; to London, KY. From Bluefield, WV; 
INT Bluefield 071[deg] and Montebello, VA, 250[deg] radials; 
Montebello; to Casanova, VA.
* * * * *

V-339 [Removed]

* * * * *

6011. United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-215 Holston Mountain, TN (HMV) to GAMKE, IN [Amended]
 
Holston Mountain, TN (HMV)                        VORTAC                        (Lat. 36[deg]26'13.40'' N, long. 082[deg]07'46.56'' W)
HILTO, VA                                         WP                            (Lat. 36[deg]41'48.46'' N, long. 082[deg]26'07.44'' W)
FLENR, VA                                         WP                            (Lat. 36[deg]56'44.27'' N, long. 082[deg]43'42.75'' W)
RISTE, KY                                         WP                            (Lat. 37[deg]09'02.92'' N, long. 082[deg]58'24.38'' W)
Hazard, KY (AZQ)                                  DME                           (Lat. 37[deg]23'28.52'' N, long. 083[deg]15'46.83'' W)
HUGEN, KY                                         FIX                           (Lat. 37[deg]31'46.14'' N, long. 083[deg]32'58.54'' W)
Lexington, KY (HYK)                               VOR/DME                       (Lat. 37[deg]57'58.86'' N, long. 084[deg]28'21.06'' W)
GAMKE, IN                                         WP                            (Lat. 38[deg]46'12.99'' N, long. 085[deg]14'35.37'' W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
T-323 CROCS, GA to Hazard, KY (AZQ) [Amended]
 
CROCS, GA                                         WP                            (Lat. 32[deg]27'17.69'' N, long. 082[deg]46'29.06'' W)
BOBBR, GA                                         WP                            (Lat. 33[deg]19'57.07'' N, long. 083[deg]08'19.47'' W)
BIGNN, GA                                         WP                            (Lat. 34[deg]20'34.38'' N, long. 083[deg]33'06.80'' W)
ZPPLN, NC                                         WP                            (Lat. 34[deg]59'47.42'' N, long. 083[deg]49'37.73'' W)
HIGGI, NC                                         WP                            (Lat. 35[deg]26'46.57'' N, long. 083[deg]46'41.05'' W)
KIDBE, TN                                         WP                            (Lat. 35[deg]51'16.23'' N, long. 083[deg]40'19.66'' W)
ZADOT, TN                                         WP                            (Lat. 36[deg]35'32.17'' N, long. 083[deg]28'40.09'' W)
WELLA, KY                                         WP                            (Lat. 37[deg]02'15.68'' N, long. 083[deg]21'31.07'' W)
Hazard, KY (AZQ)                                  DME                           (Lat. 37[deg]23'28.52'' N, long. 083[deg]15'46.83'' W)
 


[[Page 79427]]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2020.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-26920 Filed 12-9-20; 8:45 am]
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