[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25139-25140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09067]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2022 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 25139]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0676; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-33]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-15;
Western United States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route
Q-15 in order to safely segregate overflight, arrival and departure
traffic, and military operations in the high altitude airspace between
Las Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, July 14, 2022. 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 JO 7400.11
and publication of conforming amendments.
ADDRESSES: 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.
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:
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 air traffic service route structure in the
north central United States to maintain the efficient flow of air
traffic.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA 2021-0676 in the Federal Register (86 FR 48345; August 30, 2021),
amending RNAV route Q-15 in high altitude airspace between Las Vegas,
NV and Phoenix, AZ. Interested parties were invited to participate in
this rulemaking effort by submitting comments on the proposal. There
was one comment received that was not germane to the action and will
not be summarized here.
Differences From the NPRM
In the NPRM published in the Federal Register (86 FR 48345; August
30, 2021), the proposal section specified that RNAV routes are
published in paragraph 6009 of FAA Order 7400.11E dated July 21, 2020
and effective September 15, 2020. The paragraph referenced is incorrect
and should reference paragraph 2006. This rule corrects that error.
United States Area Navigation 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 United States Area Navigation Route listed in this document will be
published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document amends 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 document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 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 by amending RNAV route Q-15 in
order to safely segregate overflight, arrival and departure traffic,
and military operations in the high altitude airspace between Las
Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ.
RNAV route Q-15 currently terminates at the CHILY, AZ, waypoint
(WP), just west of Prescott Regional Airport (PRC), Prescott, AZ.
Extending Q-15 from the CHILY, AZ, WP to the NABOB, AZ, Fix is to
provide air traffic controllers, through automation and industry
outreach, one direction airways in that area for Q-13 and Q-15 between
WPs where both would intersect between the NABOB, AZ, Fix and the
HOUZZ, NV, WP. This allows traffic traveling southeast from the HOUZZ,
NV, WP to the NABOB, AZ, Fix to utilize RNAV route Q-13 and traffic
traveling northwest to utilize RNAV route Q-15, allowing for a smoother
traffic flow in that area.
Q-15: For route Q-15 the FAA is adding an extension to the route
from the NABOB, AZ, Fix to the CHILY, AZ, WP. The rest of the route
remains unchanged.
FAA Order JO 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 only affects air traffic procedures
and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated,
does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
[[Page 25140]]
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this airspace action of amending RNAV
route Q-15 between Las Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ 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.
Lists 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 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-15 NABOR, AZ to LOMIA, NV [Amended]
NABOB, AZ Fix (Lat. 34[deg]19'40.60'' N, long. 111[deg]18'53.90'' W)
CHILY, AZ WP (Lat. 34[deg]42'48.61'' N, long. 112[deg]45'42.27'' W)
DOVEE, NV WP (Lat. 35[deg]26'51.07'' N, long. 114[deg]48'00.94'' W)
SOTOO, NV WP (Lat. 36[deg]17'22.55'' N, long. 116[deg]13'14.12'' W)
HOUZZ, NV WP (Lat. 36[deg]36'43.75'' N, long. 116[deg]36'37.60'' W)
FUULL, NV WP (Lat. 37[deg]16'52.93'' N, long. 117[deg]10'13.96'' W)
SKANN, NV WP (Lat. 37[deg]22'52.68'' N, long. 117[deg]15'54.53'' W)
LOMIA, NV WP (Lat. 39[deg]13'11.57'' N, long. 119[deg]06'22.95'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-09067 Filed 4-27-22; 8:45 am]
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