[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 17, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50566-50568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17513]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2021-1083; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-62]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-229;
Point Hope, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route
T-229 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK, in support of a large and
comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, November 3, 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 www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the
Rules and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
[[Page 50567]]
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 expands the availability of RNAV in Alaska and improves
the efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System
by lessening the dependency on ground-based navigation.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for Docket
No. FAA-2021-1083 in the Federal Register (86 FR 70783; December 13,
2021), amending RNAV route T-229 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK, in
support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for
the state of Alaska. Interested parties were invited to participate in
this rulemaking effort by submitting comments on the proposal. No
comments were received.
United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph
6011 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 route listed in this document will be published subsequently
in FAA Order JO 7400.11.
Differences From the NPRM
In ``The Proposal'' section of the NPRM, the SURGE waypoint (WP)
name identified in the T-229 proposed action was incorrect. The correct
WP name is SUGRE WP. This action corrects the WP name to the SUGRE, AK,
WP in The Rule section of the preamble. The WP name correction is
editorial only and the latitude/longitude coordinates remain the same
so there is no change to the alignment of T-229.
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 T-229 in
the vicinity of Point Hope, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive
T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. The route
amendment is described below.
T-229: T-229 extends between the Fairbanks, AK, VOR/Tactical Air
Navigation (VORTAC) and the Point Hope, AK, Non-Directional Beacon
(NDB). The Point Hope NDB is replaced by the new VANTY, AK, waypoint
(WP) to provide a lowered Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA), from 4,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) to
3,000 feet MSL, between the SUGRE, AK, WP and the new VANTY WP. The
unaffected segments of the route remain 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 will only affect air traffic
procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this 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.
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this airspace action of amending RNAV
route T-229 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK, 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 5-6.5i, which categorically excludes from
further environmental review the establishment of new or revised air
traffic control procedures conducted at 3,000 feet or more above ground
level (AGL); procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not
cause traffic to be routinely routed over noise sensitive areas;
modifications to currently approved procedures conducted below 3,000
feet AGL that do not significantly increase noise over noise sensitive
areas; and increases in minimum altitudes and landing minima. 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.
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.
[[Page 50568]]
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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-229 Fairbanks, AK (FAI) to VANTY, AK [Amended]
Fairbanks, AK (FAI) VORTAC (Lat. 64[deg]48'00.25'' N, long. 148[deg]00'43.11'' W)
Tanana, AK (TAL) VOR/DME (Lat. 65[deg]10'37.65'' N, long. 152[deg]10'39.18'' W)
Huslia, AK (HSL) VOR/DME (Lat. 65[deg]42'28.35'' N, long. 156[deg]21'47.11'' W)
Selawik, AK (WLK) VOR/DME (Lat. 66[deg]35'58.11'' N, long. 159[deg]59'26.98'' W)
Kotzebue, AK (OTZ) VOR/DME (Lat. 66[deg]53'08.46'' N, long. 162[deg]32'23.77'' W)
VANTY, AK WP (Lat. 68[deg]20'40.68'' N, long. 166[deg]47'53.61'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 10, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-17513 Filed 8-16-22; 8:45 am]
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