Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 125 (Thursday, June 30, 2022)

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 125 (Thursday, June 30, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38910-38911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13843]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0994; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-14]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-7, V-341, and V-493; in the 
Vicinity of Menominee, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 
airways V-7, V-341, and V-493, in the vicinity of Menominee, MI. The 
airway amendments are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of 
the VOR portion of the Menominee, MI, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment 
(DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Menominee VOR is being 
decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network 
(VOR MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, September 8, 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: Colby Abbott, 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 airway structure as necessary to preserve 
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace 
System.

History

    The FAA published a noticed of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0994 in the Federal Register (86 FR 67377; November 26, 2021), 
amending VOR Federal airways V-7, V-341, and V-493 in the vicinity of 
Menominee, MI. The proposed amendments were due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Menominee, MI, VOR/DME 
NAVAID. The FAA invited interested parties to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No 
comments were received.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraphs 6010(a) 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 VOR 
Federal airways listed in

[[Page 38911]]

this document will be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This action to 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 three VOR Federal 
airways, V-7, V-341, and V-493, in the vicinity of Menominee, MI, due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Menominee, MI, 
VOR/DME. The airway amendment actions are described below.
    V-7: V-7 extends between the Dolphin, FL, VOR/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) and the Muscle Shoals, AL, VORTAC; between the 
Pocket City, IN, VORTAC and the intersection of the Chicago Heights, 
IL, VORTAC 358[deg] radial and the Badger, WI, VOR/DME 117[deg] radial 
(PETTY fix); and between the Green Bay, WI, VORTAC and the Sawyer, MI, 
VOR/DME. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is 
excluded and the portion outside the United States has no upper limit. 
This action removes the airway segment between the Green Bay, WI, 
VORTAC and Sawyer, MI, VOR/DME. Additionally, since the airway lies 
wholly within the United States, this action removes the 2,000 MSL 
exclusionary language and the upper limit language for the airspace 
outside the United States. The unaffected portions of the existing 
airway remain as charted.
    V-341: V-341 extends between the Cedar Rapids, IA, VOR/DME and the 
Houghton, MI, VOR/DME. This action removes the airway segment between 
the Green Bay, WI, VORTAC and the Iron Mountain, MI, VOR/DME. The 
resulting airway extends between the Cedar Rapids, IA, VOR/DME and the 
Green Bay, WI, VORTAC; and between the Iron Mountain, MI, VOR/DME and 
the Houghton, MI, VOR/DME.
    V-493: V-493 extends between the Livingston, TN, VOR/DME and the 
Appleton, OH, VORTAC; and between the Menominee, MI, VOR/DME and the 
Rhinelander, WI, VOR/DME. This action removes the airways segment 
between the Menominee, MI, VOR/DME and the Rhinelander, WI, VOR/DME. 
The resulting airway extends between the Livingston, TN, VOR/DME and 
the Appleton, OH, VORTAC.
    All of the NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway 
descriptions below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
is published yearly and effective on September 15.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA 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 determined that this action of amending VOR Federal airways 
V-7, V-341, and V-493, due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the Menominee VOR/DME NAVAID, 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 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 determined that 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 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 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-7 [Amended]

    From Dolphin, FL; INT Dolphin 299[deg] and Lee County, FL, 
120[deg] radials; Lee County; Lakeland, FL; Cross City, FL; 
Seminole, FL; Wiregrass, AL; INT Wiregrass 333[deg] and Montgomery, 
AL, 129[deg] radials; Montgomery; Vulcan, AL; to Muscle Shoals, AL. 
From Pocket City, IN; INT Pocket City 016[deg] and Terre Haute, IN, 
191[deg] radials; Terre Haute; Boiler, IN; Chicago Heights, IL; to 
INT Chicago Heights 358[deg] and Badger, WI, 117[deg] radials.
* * * * *

V-341 [Amended]

    From Cedar Rapids, IA; Dubuque, IA; Madison, WI; Oshkosh, WI; to 
Green Bay, WI. From Iron Mountain, MI; Sawyer, MI; to Houghton, MI.
* * * * *

V-493 [Amended]

    From Livingston, TN; Lexington, KY; York, KY; INT York 030[deg] 
and Appleton, OH, 183[deg] radials; to Appleton.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-13843 Filed 6-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P