[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 172 (Thursday, September 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50493-50495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19321]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0704; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-32]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of United States Area Navigation Route Q-73 in 
the Vicinity of Twentynine Palms, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation 
(RNAV) route Q-73 due to the creation of Special Activity Airspace 
(SAA) (Bristol Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA)) in the 
vicinity of Twentynine Palms, CA.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 25, 2021.

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-2021-0704; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-32 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    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,

[[Page 50494]]

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: 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 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-2021-0704; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-32) 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-2021-0704; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-32.'' 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 NPRM

    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 7400.11E, 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.

Background

    The Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZLA) is 
responsible for managing the NAS for much of the Desert Southwest 
portion of the United States. This responsibility requires close 
coordination with the many military installations to ensure a proper 
balance between the NAS user needs and military mission requirements.
    The United States Marine Corps (USMC) in Yuma, AZ has requested 
additional airspace (higher altitude) above the existing Bristol 
Military Operations Area (MOA) northeast of Twentynine Palms, CA. The 
airspace in the Bristol MOA has a ceiling to but not including 18,000 
feet MSL, however the USMC has determined that to be inadequate to 
support Marine Expeditionary Brigade sized training events. A recent 
agreement between the USMC in Yuma, AZ, and ZLA provides two ATCAAs 
above the current Bristol MOAs to support the need for higher 
altitudes. Creating this additional airspace, however, conflicts with 
traffic on RNAV route Q-73. A slight modification of Q-73 will be 
required to provide safe passage of non-participating aircraft 
transitioning this area.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend United 
States Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-73 due to the creation of SAA, 
Bristol ATCAA in the vicinity of Twentynine Palms, CA. The proposal 
would add two additional waypoints between LVELL and HAKMN in order to 
provide an adequate buffer between military activities in that area. 
The full legal description is provided in the ``Rule'' area below.
    Q-73: Q-73 currently extends from the MOMAR, CA, waypoint (WP) to 
the CORDU, ID, WP. The FAA proposes to add two additional WPs. The 
first WP would be BLKWL between LVELL and ZELMA and the other KRLIE, 
WP, between ZELMA and HAKMN. These proposed WP would provide safe 
segregation of air traffic along Q-73 from military activity operating 
within the adjacent SAA. The rest of the route would remain unchanged.
    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 RNAV 
route listed in this document would be published subsequently 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

[[Page 50495]]

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 7400.11E, 
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-73 MOMAR, CA to CORDU, ID [Amended]

MOMAR, CA                              FIX                                    (Lat. 33[deg]30'54.13'' N, long. 115[deg]56'40.14'' W)
LVELL, CA                              WP                                     (Lat. 34[deg]12'37.38'' N, long. 115[deg]36'53.25'' W)
BLKWL, CA                              WP                                     (Lat. 34[deg]22'01.06'' N, long. 115[deg]29'56.81'' W)
ZELMA, CA                              WP                                     (Lat. 34[deg]46'59.99'' N, long. 115[deg]19'47.51'' W)
KRLIE, CA                              WP                                     (Lat. 35[deg]08'24.42'' N, long. 115[deg]13'59.57'' W)
HAKMN, NV                              WP                                     (Lat. 35[deg]30'28.31'' N, long. 115[deg]04'47.04'' W)
LAKRR, NV                              WP                                     (Lat. 36[deg]05'07.72'' N, long. 114[deg]17'09.16'' W)
GUNTR, AZ                              WP                                     (Lat. 36[deg]24'39.65'' N, long. 114[deg]02'11.55'' W)
ZAINY, AZ                              WP                                     (Lat. 36[deg]39'24.73'' N, long. 113[deg]54'03.50'' W)
EEVUN, UT                              WP                                     (Lat. 37[deg]02'52.90'' N, long. 113[deg]42'42.56'' W)
WINEN, UT                              WP                                     (Lat. 37[deg]56'00.00'' N, long. 113[deg]30'00.00'' W)
CRITO, NV                              WP                                     (Lat. 39[deg]18'00.00'' N, long. 114[deg]33'00.00'' W)
BROPH, ID                              WP                                     (Lat. 42[deg]43'15.71'' N, long. 114[deg]52'31.80'' W)
DERSO, ID                              WP                                     (Lat. 43[deg]21'42.63'' N, long. 115[deg]08'01.66'' W)
ZATIP, ID                              WP                                     (Lat. 46[deg]13'17.48'' N, long. 116[deg]31'37.57'' W)
CORDU, ID                              FIX                                    (Lat. 48[deg]10'46.41'' N, long. 116[deg]40'21.84'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 30, 2021.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-19321 Filed 9-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P