[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26981-26983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09440]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2021-1031; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-14]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment and Removal of VOR Federal Airways V-18, V-115, V-222,
V-241, V-245, V-311, V-321, V-325, V-333, V-415, V-417, and V-463 in
the Southeastern United States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends five VHF Omnidirectional Radar (VOR)
Federal airways, V-18, V-222, V-245, V-325, and V-417 in association
with the VOR Minimum Operation Network (MON) project in the
southeastern United States. This action is necessary due to the planned
decommissioning of the following ground-based NAVAIDs: Atlanta, GA,
(ATL) VOR Tactical Air Navigational System (VORTAC); Crimson, AL, (LDK)
VORTAC; and Macon, GA, (MCN) VORTAC. The following airways are removed
from this docket and will be addressed in a subsequent docket action at
a later date: V-115, V-241, V-311, V-321, V-333, V-415, and V-463.
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: 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 modify the route structure as necessary to
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National
Airspace System (NAS).
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA-2021-1031 in the Federal Register (86 FR 70989, December 14, 2021),
to amend seven VOR Federal airways and remove five airways in the
southeastern United States. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal. No comments were received.
Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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 VOR
Federal airways listed in this document will be subsequently published
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.
Differences From the NPRM
This rule includes changes to the VOR Federal airways proposed in
the NPRM to enable ongoing review by the Department of Defense. So as
to avoid the premature removal of route
[[Page 26982]]
segments, only those structural changes necessary due to the scheduled
decommissioning of the Atlanta, GA, (ATL); Crimson, AL, (LDK), and
Macon, GA, (MCN) VORs are included in this rule.
The following routes are removed from this rule: V-115, V-421, V-
311, V-321, V-333, V-415, and V-463. These routes will be addressed in
a subsequent docket action at a later date. The NPRM proposed the
removal of V-325 and V-417. Instead, these routes will be retained and
amended in this rule. V-245 is amended as proposed in the NPRM. The
following are changes from NPRM:
V-18: The NPRM proposed to remove the segments from the Crimson,
AL, (LDK) VORTAC to Vulcan, AL, and the segment from Colliers, SC, to
Charleston, SC. The FAA has decided to retain the segment From
Colliers, SC, to Charleston, SC.
V-222: The NPRM proposed to terminate V-222 at Montgomery, AL.
Instead, the FAA has decided to terminate V-222 at the TIROE
intersection, as currently charted.
V-325: V-325 currently extends from the Columbia, SC, (CAE) VORTAC,
to the Muscle Shoals, AL, (MSL) VORTAC. The NPRM proposed to remove the
entire route. The FAA has decided to retain V-325 and amend it as
follows: From Columbia, SC, to Athens, GA; and From INT Gadsden, AL,
091[deg] and Rome, GA, 133[deg] radials; to INT Vulcan, AL, 013[deg]
and Gadsden 302[deg] radials.
V-417: V-417 currently extends from the Meridian, MS, (MEI) VORTAC
to the Charleston, SC, (CHS) VORTAC. The NPRM proposed to remove the
entire route. The FAA has decided to retain V-417 and amend it as
follows: From Vulcan, AL; Rome, GA; to INT Rome 060[deg] and Hinch
Mountain, TN, 160[deg] radials. From Athens, GA; Colliers, SC;
Allendale, SC; to Charleston, SC.
The Rule
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying V-18, V-222, V-245,
V-325, and V-417.
V-18: V-18 is amended by removing the segment between Crimson, AL,
and Vulcan, AL. The amended route extends between Belcher, LA and
Meridian, MS; and between Colliers, SC, and Charleston, SC.
V-222: V-222 is amended by removing the segments from the
intersection of the Foothills, SC, and the Harris, GA, radials to
Lynchburg, VA. The amended route extends from El Paso, TX to the
intersection of the La Grange, GA, 048[deg] and the Rome, GA, 166[deg]
radials (the charted TIROE Intersection).
V-325: V-325 is amended to extend from Columbia, SC to Athens, GA;
and from the intersection of the Gadsden, AL 091[deg] and the Rome, GA
133[deg] radials; to the intersection of the Vulcan, AL, 013[deg] and
the Gadsden 302[deg] radials.
V-417: V-417 is amended by removing the segments from Meridian, MS,
to Crimson, AL. The amended route consists of two parts: From Vulcan,
AL, to the intersection of the Rome, GA, 060[deg], and the Hinch
Mountain, TN, 160[deg] radials (the charted NELLO intersection); and
From Athens, GA, to Charleston, SC.
Full route descriptions of the above routes are listed in ``The
Amendment'' section of this rule.
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 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 number of
small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this action of amending five VOR
Federal airways, in the southeastern United States 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); and paragraph 5-6.5b, which categorically excludes from
further environmental impact review ``Actions regarding establishment
of jet routes and Federal airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, Designation of jet
routes and VOR Federal airways) . . .''. As such, this action is not
expected to cause 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. The FAA has determined 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 JO
7400.11F Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10,
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-18 [Amended]
From Belcher, LA; Monroe, LA; Magnolia, MS; to Meridian, MS.
From Colliers, SC; to Charleston, SC
* * * * *
V-222 [Amended]
From El Paso, TX, via Salt Flat, TX; Fort Stockton, TX; 20
miles, 116 miles, 55 MSL, Junction, TX; Stonewall, TX; INT Stonewall
113[deg] and Industry, TX, 267[deg] radials; Industry; INT Industry
101[deg] and Humble 259[deg] radials; Humble; Beaumont, TX; Lake
Charles, LA; McComb, MS; Eaton, MS; Monroeville, AL; Montgomery, AL;
LaGrange, GA; to INT LaGrange 048[deg] and Rome, GA, 166[deg]
radials .
* * * * *
[[Page 26983]]
V-245 [Amended]
From Alexandria, LA, via Natchez, MS; Magnolia, MS; to Bigbee,
MS.
* * * * *
V-325 [Amended]
From Columbia, SC to Athens, GA. From INT Gadsden, AL, 091[deg]
and Rome, GA, 133[deg] radials; Gadsden; to INT Vulcan, AL 013[deg]
and Gadsden 302[deg] radials.
* * * * *
V-417 [Amended]
From Vulcan, AL; Rome, GA; to INT Rome 060[deg] and Hinch
Mountain, TN, 160[deg] radials. From Athens, GA; Colliers, SC;
Allendale, SC; to Charleston, SC.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-09440 Filed 5-5-22; 8:45 am]
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