[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 146 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41708-41709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16432]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1155; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-28]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-34; Northeastern 
United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-34 in the 
northeastern United States in support of the Northeast Corridor 
Atlantic Coast Route Project (NEC ACR) for improved efficiency of the 
National Airspace System (NAS) while reducing the dependency on ground 
based navigational systems.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, October 7, 2021. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR 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: Sean Hook, 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 expands the availability of RNAV routes in the NAS, 
increases airspace capacity, and reduces complexity in high air traffic 
volume areas.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2020-1155 in the Federal Register (86 FR 3889; January 15, 2021), 
amending RNAV route Q-34 in the northeastern United States in support 
of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project (NEC ACR) for 
improved efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) while 
reducing the dependency on ground based navigational systems.
    United States area navigation routes are published in paragraph 
2006 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 United 
States area navigation route listed in this document will be published 
subsequently 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

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 to amend RNAV route Q-34, in the 
northeastern United States to support the Northeast Corridor Atlantic 
Coast Route project developed Performance Based Navigation (PBN) routes 
involving the Washington, Boston, New York, and Jacksonville Air Route 
Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC). The NEC ACR route also ties-in to the 
existing high altitude RNAV route structure enabling more efficient 
direct routings between the U.S. east coast and Caribbean area 
locations.
    Q-34: Q-34 will extend between the Texarkana, AR (TXK), VORTAC to 
the Robbinsville, NJ (RBV), VORTAC.
    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.

[[Page 41709]]

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this airspace action of amending RNAV 
route Q-34 qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 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. Accordingly, 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 7400.11E, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020 and 
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-34 Texarkana, AR (TXK) to Robbinsville, NJ (RBV) [Amend]
Texarkana, AR (TXK)    VORTAC                (Lat. 33[deg]30'49.97'' N, long. 094[deg]04'23.67'' W)
LOOSE, AR              WP                    (Lat. 33[deg]53'46.88'' N, long. 093[deg]05'08.38'' W)
MATIE, AR              FIX                   (Lat. 34[deg]05'41.96'' N, long. 092[deg]33'02.35'' W)
MEMFS, TN              WP                    (Lat. 35[deg]00'54.62'' N, long. 089[deg]58'58.87'' W)
SWAPP, TN              FIX                   (Lat. 36[deg]36'49.78'' N, long. 085[deg]10'56.04'' W)
GHATS, KY              FIX                   (Lat. 36[deg]48'06.75'' N, long. 084[deg]34'02.44'' W)
FOUNT, KY              FIX                   (Lat. 36[deg]57'24.34'' N, long. 084[deg]03'01.92'' W)
TONIO, KY              FIX                   (Lat. 37[deg]15'15.20'' N, long. 083[deg]01'47.53'' W)
KONGO, KY              FIX                   (Lat. 37[deg]30'19.46'' N, long. 082[deg]08'12.56'' W)
NEALS, WV              FIX                   (Lat. 37[deg]35'45.99'' N, long. 081[deg]48'24.62'' W)
SITTR, WV              WP                    (Lat. 37[deg]46'49.13'' N, long. 081[deg]07'23.70'' W)
ASBUR, WV              FIX                   (Lat. 37[deg]49'24.41'' N, long. 080[deg]27'51.44'' W)
DENNY, VA              FIX                   (Lat. 37[deg]52'00.15'' N, long. 079[deg]44'13.75'' W)
MAULS, VA              WP                    (Lat. 37[deg]52'49.36'' N, long. 079[deg]19'49.19'' W)
Gordonsville, VA       VORTAC                (Lat. 38[deg]00'48.96'' N, long. 078[deg]09'10.90'' W)
 (GVE)
BOOYA, VA              WP                    (Lat. 38[deg]24'20.50'' N, long. 077[deg]21'46.36'' W)
DUALY, MD              WP                    (Lat. 38[deg]45'53.59'' N, long. 076[deg]50'33.76'' W)
BIGRG, MD              WP                    (Lat. 39[deg]15'13.92'' N, long. 076[deg]07'13.77'' W)
PNGWN, NJ              WP                    (Lat. 39[deg]39'27.07'' N, long. 075[deg]30'41.79'' W)
HULKK, NJ              WP                    (Lat. 39[deg]59'53.04'' N, long. 074[deg]58'52.52'' W)
Robbinsville, NJ       VORTAC                (Lat. 40[deg]12'08.65'' N, long. 074[deg]29'42.09'' W)
 (RBV)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 28, 2021.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-16432 Filed 8-2-21; 8:45 am]
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