[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 225 (Friday, November 26, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67370-67373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25496]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0912; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-6]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment and Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) 
Routes, Eastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify six existing high altitude area 
navigation (RNAV) routes (Q-routes), and establish one new Q-route, in 
support of the FAA's VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) Program. This proposal would improve the 
efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) by expanding the 
availability of RNAV routing and reducing the dependency on ground-
based navigational systems.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 10, 2022.

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-
2021-0912; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-6 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11F, 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. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is also available for inspection at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on 
the availability of FAA Order JO 7400.11F at NARA, email: 
[email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, 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 expand the availability of RNAV routes in the 
NAS, increase airspace capacity, and reduce complexity in high air 
traffic volume areas.

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-2021-0912; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-6) 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-2021-0912; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-6.'' 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's

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also 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 Eastern Service Center, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 
30337.

[[Page 67371]]

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective 
September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this proposed rule. FAA Order JO 
7400.11F lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic 
service routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend six 
existing Q-routes, and establish one new Q-route, in the eastern United 
States to support the VOR MON program.
    The proposed Q-route amendments are as follows:
    Q-19: Q-19 currently extends between the Nashville, TN, (BNA) VHF 
Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid 
(NAVAID), and the Aberdeen, SD, (ABR) VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment 
(DME) NAVAID. Because the Nashville VORTAC is planned for 
decommissioning, this proposal would remove the Nashville VORTAC from 
Q-19 and replace it with the HITMN, TN, waypoint (WP). The HITMN WP 
would be located about 60 feet southeast of the Nashville VORTAC 
location. Additionally, the FAA proposes to extend Q-19 from the HITMN 
WP southeastward to the BULZI, FL, WP, (located east to the Tallahassee 
International Airport (TLH), FL). As amended, Q-19 would extend between 
BULZI, FL, and Aberdeen, SD.
    Q-30: Q-30 currently extends between the Sidon, MS, (SQS) VORTAC 
and the Vulcan, AL, (VUZ) VORTAC. New WPs would replace the Sidon and 
Vulcan VORTACs. The IZAAC, MS, WP would replace the Sidon VORTAC, and 
the VLKNN, AL, WP, would replace the Vulcan, AL, (VUZ) VORTAC. IZAAC 
would be located 60 feet east of the Sidon position, and VLKNN would be 
located 49 feet east of the Vulcan position. In addition, Q-30 would be 
slightly realigned to the south of its current track to extend from the 
IZAAC WP to a new SKNRR, MS, WP (which would replace the Bigbee, MS, 
(IGB) VORTAC), then proceed to the VLKNN, AL, WP. The realignment of Q-
30 would overlay the segment of jet route J-52 between the Sidon and 
Vulcan VORTACs. As amended, Q-30 would extend from IZAAC, MS, to SKNRR, 
MS, to VLKNN, AL.
    Q-79: Q-79 currently extends between the MCLAW, FL, WP and the 
Atlanta, GA, (ATL) VORTAC. This action would amend Q-79 by replacing 
the Atlanta VORTAC with the THRSR, GA, WP, which is located 60 feet 
north of the Atlanta VORTAC position. The YUESS, GA, WP would be 
removed from the route and replaced by the ZPLEN, GA, WP. Q-79 would 
also be extended north from the THRSR WP to the Louisville, KY, (IIU) 
VORTAC. As amended, Q-79 would extend between the MCLAW, FL, WP, and 
the Louisville, KY, VORTAC.
    Q-81: Q-81 currently extends between the LTUNSL, FL, WP, and the 
HONID, GA, WP. The only proposed change to this route would be a small 
move of the IPOKE, FL, WP, south of its current position. IPOKE is used 
in transitioning aircraft between Jacksonville and Atlanta Air Route 
Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC). This move would assist with air 
traffic flow and avoid excessive coordination between ARTCCs. The 
coordinates of IPOKE would change from lat. 30[deg]51'48.89''N, long. 
084[deg]11'52.43''W, to lat. 30[deg]50'38.05''N, long. 
084[deg]11'34.84''W. Additionally, in the Q-81 route description, the 
location of the FIPES and BITNY WPs are listed as ``OG'' instead of a 
state abbreviation. ``OG'' means that the WPs are located offshore over 
the Gulf of Mexico.
    Q-89: Q-89 currently extends between the MANLE, FL, WP, and the 
Atlanta, GA, (ATL) VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the segment 
between the YANTI, GA, WP, and the Atlanta VORTAC. Instead, the route 
would extend from YANTI to a new HESPI, GA, WP, (located 30 nautical 
miles (NM) southeast of the Atlanta VORTAC). From that point Q-89 would 
extend northward to a new CULTO, GA, WP, (approximately 20 NM northeast 
of the Atlanta VORTAC), and then northward to the SMTTH, TN, WP, 
(located west of the Volunteer, TN, VORTAC). As proposed, Q-89 would 
extend between the MANLE, FL, WP, and the SMTTH, TN, WP.
    Q-118: Q-118 currently extends between the Marion, IN, (MZZ) VOR/
DME and the PEAKY, FL, WP. This action would remove the Marion VOR/DME 
and the Atlanta VORTAC from the route description and replace them with 
WPs. The Marion VOR/DME would be replaced by the BONNT, IN, WP (located 
121 feet north of the Marion VOR/DME). The Atlanta VORTAC would be 
replaced by the THRSR, GA, WP, (located 60 feet north of the Atlanta 
VORTAC). As amended, Q-118 would extend between the BONNT, IN, WP, and 
the PEAKY, FL, WP.
    The proposed new Q-route is as follows:
    Q-184: Q-184 would extend between the Ranger, TX, (FUZ) VORTAC, and 
the ARNNY, AL, WP (approximately 30 NM west of the Montgomery, AL, 
(MGM) VORTAC). Q-184 would be an overlay of those portions of jet route 
J-4 between the Ranger VORTAC and the Meridian, MS, (MEI), VORTAC, at 
which point Q-184 would proceed east to the ZRNNY, AL, WP. In support 
of efforts to reduce the dependency on ground-based navigation, new WPs 
would be used in the Q-184 route description as follows: The MERDN, MS, 
WP, would replace the Meridian, MS, (MEI) VORTAC; the DOBIS, LA, WP, 
would replace the Belcher, LA, (EIC) VORTAC; and the SARKK, MS, WP, 
would replace the Magnolia, MS, (MHZ) VORTAC.
    The proposed new and amended routes in this notice would expand the 
availability of high altitude RNAV routing along the eastern seaboard 
of the U.S. The project is designed to increase airspace capacity and 
reduce complexity in high volume areas through the use of optimized 
routes through congested airspace.
    RNAV routes are published in paragraph 2006 of FAA Order JO 
7400.11F dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV routes listed in 
this document would be subsequently published in FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    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.

[[Page 67372]]

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 14 CFR 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 JO 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-19 BULZI, FL to Aberdeen, SD (ABR) [Amended]
 
BULZI, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 30[deg]22'24.93''N, long. 084[deg]04'34.47''W)
WYATT, GA                                       Fix                            (Lat. 31[deg]19'22.44''N, long. 084[deg]37'30.40''W)
GOONS, GA                                       Fix                            (Lat. 31[deg]52'01.47''N, long. 084[deg]48'21.14''W)
LAYIN, AL                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]35'38.39''N, long. 085[deg]32'50.84''W)
TOJXE, AL                                       WP                             (Lat. 34[deg]39'40.18''N, long. 086[deg]01'49.42''W)
HITMN, TN                                       WP                             (Lat. 36[deg]08'12.47''N, long. 086[deg]41'05.25''W)
PLESS, IL                                       Fix                            (Lat. 37[deg]48'34.48''N, long. 088[deg]57'47.48''W)
St Louis, MO (STL)                              VORTAC                         (Lat. 38[deg]51'38.48''N, long. 090[deg]28'56.52''W)
Des Moines, IA (DSM)                            VORTAC                         (Lat. 41[deg]26'15.45''N, long. 093[deg]38'54.81''W)
Sioux Falls, SD (FSD)                           VORTAC                         (Lat. 43[deg]38'58.14''N, long. 096[deg]46'52.02''W)
Aberdeen, SD (ABR)                              VOR/DME                        (Lat. 45[deg]25'02.48''N, long. 098[deg]22'07.39''W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
                                                          Q-30 IZAAC, MS to VLKNN, AL [Amended]
 
IZAAC, MS                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]27'49.87''N, long. 090[deg]16'37.75''W)
SKNRR, MS                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]29'07.75''N, long. 088[deg]30'49.63''W)
VLKNN, AL                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]40'12.47''N, long. 086[deg]53'58.83''W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
                                                    Q-79 MCLAW, FL to Louisville, KY (IIU) [Amended]
 
MCLAW, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 24[deg]33'49.00''N, long. 081[deg]01'00.00''W)
VAULT, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 24[deg]45'54.75''N, long. 081[deg]00'33.72''W)
FEMID, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 26[deg]06'29.59''N, long. 081[deg]27'23.07''W)
WULFF, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 27[deg]04'03.14''N, long. 081[deg]58'44.99''W)
MOLIE, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 28[deg]01'55.53''N, long. 082[deg]18'25.55''W)
DOFFY, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 29[deg]15'22.73''N, long. 082[deg]31'38.10''W)
EVANZ, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 29[deg]54'12.11''N, long. 082[deg]52'03.81''W)
IISLY, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 30[deg]42'37.70''N, long. 083[deg]17'57.72''W)
ZPLEN, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 31[deg]41'28.42''N, long. 083[deg]40'21.06''W)
THRSR, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]37'45.26''N, long. 084[deg]26'06.36''W)
KAILL, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 34[deg]01'47.21''N, long. 084[deg]31'24.18''W)
WUDEE, GA                                       Fix                            (Lat. 34[deg]34'43.52''N, long. 084[deg]39'58.83''W)
RESPE, TN                                       Fix                            (Lat. 35[deg]35'30.56''N, long. 084[deg]55'12.31''W)
SWAPP, TN                                       Fix                            (Lat. 36[deg]36'49.78''N, long. 085[deg]10'56.04''W)
Louisville, KY (IIU)                            VORTAC                         (Lat. 38[deg]06'12.47''N, long. 085[deg]34'38.77''W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
                                                          Q-81 TUNSL, FL to HONID, GA [Amended]
 
TUNSL, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 24[deg]54'02.43''N, long. 081[deg]31'02.80''W)
KARTR, FL                                       Fix                            (Lat. 25[deg]29'45.76''N, long. 081[deg]30'46.24''W)
FIPES, OG                                       WP                             (Lat. 25[deg]41'30.15''N, long. 081[deg]37'13.79''W)
THMPR, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 26[deg]46'00.21''N, long. 082[deg]20'23.99''W)
LEEHI, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 27[deg]07'21.91''N, long. 082[deg]34'54.57''W)
FARLU, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 27[deg]45'32.56''N, long. 082[deg]50'43.77''W)
MGNTY, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 28[deg]01'32.99''N, long. 082[deg]53'19.71''W)
ENDEW, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 28[deg]18'01.73''N, long. 082[deg]55'56.70''W)
BITNY, OG                                       WP                             (Lat. 28[deg]46'11.98''N, long. 083[deg]07'53.01''W)
NICKI, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 29[deg]15'20.19''N, long. 083[deg]20'31.80''W)
SNAPY, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 29[deg]48'51.17''N, long. 083[deg]42'23.61''W)
BULZI, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 30[deg]22'24.93''N, long. 084[deg]04'34.47''W)
IPOKE, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 30[deg]50'38.05''N, long. 084[deg]11'34.84''W)
HONID, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 31[deg]38'50.31''N, long. 084[deg]23'42.60''W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
                                                          Q-89 MANLE, FL to SMTTH, TN [Amended]
 
MANLE, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 28[deg]42'26.16''N, long. 080[deg]24'23.71''W)
WAKUP, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 28[deg]51'47.62''N, long. 080[deg]40'26.97''W)
PRMUS, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 29[deg]49'05.67''N, long. 081[deg]07'20.74''W)
OVENP, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 30[deg]08'04.41''N, long. 081[deg]22'26.25''W)
SHRKS, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 30[deg]37'23.23''N, long. 081[deg]45'59.13''W)
YANTI, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 31[deg]47'22.38''N, long. 082[deg]51'32.65''W)

[[Page 67373]]

 
HESPI, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]14'21.16''N, long. 084[deg]05'38.77''W)
CULTO, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]59'10.52''N, long. 084[deg]17'39.60''W)
SMTTH, TN                                       WP                             (Lat. 35[deg]54'41.57''N, long. 084[deg]00'19.74''W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
                                                         Q-118 BONNT, IN to PEAKY, FL [Amended]
 
BONNT, IN                                       WP                             (Lat. 40[deg]29'37.14''N, long. 085[deg]40'45.75''W)
HEVAN, IN                                       WP                             (Lat. 39[deg]21'08.86''N, long. 085[deg]07'46.70''W)
ROYYZ, IN                                       WP                             (Lat. 38[deg]56'28.93''N, long. 084[deg]56'10.19''W)
VOSTK, KY                                       WP                             (Lat. 38[deg]28'15.86''N, long. 084[deg]43'03.58''W)
HELUB, KY                                       WP                             (Lat. 37[deg]42'54.84''N, long. 084[deg]44'28.31''W)
JEDER, KY                                       WP                             (Lat. 37[deg]19'30.54''N, long. 084[deg]45'14.17''W)
GLAZR, TN                                       WP                             (Lat. 36[deg]25'20.78''N, long. 084[deg]46'49.29''W)
KAILL, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 34[deg]01'47.21''N, long. 084[deg]31'24.18''W)
THRSR, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]37'45.26''N, long. 084[deg]26'06.36''W)
JOHNN, GA                                       WP                             (Lat. 31[deg]31'22.94''N, long. 083[deg]57'26.55''W)
JAMIZ, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 30[deg]13'46.91''N, long. 083[deg]19'27.78''W)
BRUTS, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 29[deg]30'58.00''N, long. 082[deg]58'57.00''W)
JINOS, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 28[deg]28'46.00''N, long. 082[deg]08'52.00''W)
KPASA, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 28[deg]10'34.00''N, long. 081[deg]54'27.00''W)
SHEEK, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 27[deg]35'15.40''N, long. 081[deg]46'27.82''W)
CHRRI, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 27[deg]03'00.70''N, long. 081[deg]39'14.81''W)
FEMID, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 26[deg]06'29.59''N, long. 081[deg]27'23.07''W)
PEAKY, FL                                       WP                             (Lat. 24[deg]35'23.72''N, long. 081[deg]08'53.91''W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
                                                        Q-184 Ranger, TX (FUZ) to ARNNY, AL [New]
Ranger, TX (FUZ)                                VORTAC                         (Lat. 32[deg]53'22.02''N, long. 097[deg]10'45.93''W)
DOBIS, TX                                       WP                             (Lat. 32[deg]46'16.86''N, long. 093[deg]48'35.05''W)
BERKE, LA                                       Fix                            (Lat. 32[deg]45'18.20''N, long. 093[deg]35'50.03''W)
MIXIE, LA                                       Fix                            (Lat. 32[deg]43'19.40''N, long. 093[deg]10'51.57''W)
STAGE, LA                                       Fix                            (Lat. 32[deg]42'42.76''N, long. 093[deg]03'21.82''W)
KAMEN, LA                                       Fix                            (Lat. 32[deg]40'10.15''N, long. 092[deg]33'07.47''W)
SARKK, MS                                       WP                             (Lat. 32[deg]26'02.24''N, long. 090[deg]05'58.67''W)
MERDN, MS                                       WP                             (Lat. 32[deg]22'42.36''N, long. 088[deg]48'14.66''W)
KWANE, MS                                       WP                             (Lat. 32[deg]22'00.47''N, long. 088[deg]27'29.43''W)
ARNNY, AL                                       WP                             (Lat. 32[deg]20'40.60''N, long. 086[deg]59'28.57''W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 17, 2021.
Michael R. Beckles,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-25496 Filed 11-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P