[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8410-8411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03129]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0479; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-5]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-170, V-175 and V-250; 
Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-400; in the Vicinity of 
Worthington, MN.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This action changes the effective date of a final rule 
published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2022, amending VHF 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-170, V-175, and V-250, 
and establishing area navigation (RNAV) route T-400, due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Worthington, MN, VOR/Distance 
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid. The FAA is delaying the 
effective date to facilitate continued use of the current Air Traffic 
Procedures, while allowing sufficient time for redesign of the proposed 
procedures, in order to meet to required current procedure criteria.

DATES: The effective date of the final rule published on January 14, 
2022 (87 FR 2322) is delayed until September 8, 2022. The Director of 
the Federal Register approved 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jesse Acevedo, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA published a final rule in the Federal Register for Docket 
No. FAA-2021-0479 (87 FR 2322, January 14, 2022), amending VOR Federal 
airways V-170, V-175, and V-250, and establishing RNAV route T-400, due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Worthington, 
MN, VOR/DME. The effective date for that final rule is March 24, 2022. 
Subsequent to publication of the final rule, the Flight Standards 
Procedure Review Board (PRB) denied a waiver request to use a higher 
climb gradient than specified in current criteria for a portion of the 
Air Traffic Procedures that were revised in support of this action. The 
FAA is delaying the effective date to September 8, 2022 to facilitate 
continued use of the current Air Traffic Service procedures, while 
allowing sufficient time for the redesign of the proposed procedures, 
in order to meet the required current procedural criteria.
    To facilitate the safe and continuous use of existing air traffic 
procedures while the ATS route procedures are redesigned, the planned 
decommissioning date for the Worthington, MN, VOR has been postponed to 
September 8, 2022. The rule amending V-170, V-175, and V-250, and 
establishing area navigation T-400 is delayed to coincide with that 
date.
    VOR Federal airways and RNAV T-routes are published in paragraphs 
6010(a) and 6011, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 
20, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which are incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The ATS routes listed in this document will 
be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

Good Cause for No Notice and Comment

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of Title 5, United States Code, (the 
Administrative Procedure Act) authorizes agencies to dispense with 
notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency for ``good 
cause'' finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, 
or contrary to the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, 
upon finding good cause, may issue a final rule without seeking comment 
prior to the rulemaking. The FAA finds that prior notice and public 
comment to this final rule is unnecessary due to the brief length of 
the extension of the effective date and the fact that there is no 
substantive change to the rule.''

Delay of Effective Date

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the 
effective date of the final rule, Airspace Docket 21-AGL-5, as 
published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2022 (87 FR 2322), FR 
Doc. 2022-00457, is hereby delayed until September 8, 2022.

    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.


[[Page 8411]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 9, 2022.
Michael R. Beckles,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2022-03129 Filed 2-14-22; 8:45 am]
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