[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54884-54885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19290]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0824; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-33]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment and Revocation of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes;
Southeastern and Northeastern United States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-81 to
realign a portion of the route to improve traffic flows, and to remove
Canadian RNAV route Q-947 at the request of NavCanada. These changes
support the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project.
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
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 modifies the route structure as necessary to preserve
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace
System.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA-2022-0824, in the Federal Register (87 FR 41632; July 13, 2022),
amending RNAV route Q-81 and removing Q-947. Interested parties were
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written
comments on the proposal. No comments were received.
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 RNAV routes listed in this document will be subsequently published
in and removed from FAA Order JO 7400.11.
Difference From the NPRM
In the regulatory text for Q-81, the ZEILR point was identified as
a ``waypoint (WP).'' This is corrected to reflect ZEILR as a ``Fix.''
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 Q-81 in the
southeastern United States, and removing Canadian route Q-947 in the
northeastern United States.
Q-81: Q-81 extends from the TUNSL, FL, WP, to the HONID, GA, WP.
This action amends the current route segments between the FIPES, OG, WP
and the FARLU, FL, WP by removing the THMPR, FL, WP and the LEEHI, FL,
WP and inserting the ZEILR, FL, Fix, and the PIKKR, OG, WP. The effect
of this change realigns the track of Q-81 by between 1 nautical mile
(NM) and 10.5 NM to the west of its current path. This change assists
with traffic flow, conflict avoidance, and prevents excessive
coordination for air traffic controllers. In addition, the FAA is
removing the following WPs from the legal description of Q-81: MGNTY,
FL; BITNY, OG; SNAPY, FL; and IPOKE, GA. Because they do not denote a
route turn point, these WPs are not required to be included in the Q-81
legal description. However, these points will continue to be depicted
on the IFR En Route charts because they are used for air traffic
control purposes. The full description of Q-81 is listed in the
amendments to part 71 set forth below.
Q-947: Q-947 is a Canadian RNAV route that is being removed at the
request of NavCanada.
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
[[Page 54885]]
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 RNAV route Q-81
and removing Q-947 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 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.
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-81 TUNSL, FL to HONID, GA [Amended]
TUNSL, FL WP (Lat. 24[deg]54'02.43'' N, long. 081[deg]31'02.80'' W)
KARTR, FL FIX (Lat. 25[deg]29'45.76'' N, long. 081[deg]30'46.24'' W)
FIPES, OG WP (Lat. 25[deg]41'30.15'' N, long. 081[deg]37'13.79'' W)
ZEILR, FL FIX (Lat. 26[deg]38'13.17'' N, long. 082[deg]22'27.71'' W)
PIKKR, OG WP (Lat. 26[deg]56'24.43'' N, long. 082[deg]41'25.28'' W)
FARLU, FL WP (Lat. 27[deg]45'32.56'' N, long. 082[deg]50'43.77'' W)
ENDEW, FL WP (Lat. 28[deg]18'01.73'' N, long. 082[deg]55'56.70'' W)
NICKI, FL WP (Lat. 29[deg]15'20.19'' N, long. 083[deg]20'31.80'' W)
BULZI, FL WP (Lat. 30[deg]22'24.93'' N, long. 084[deg]04'34.47'' W)
HONID, GA WP (Lat. 31[deg]38'50.31'' N, long. 084[deg]23'42.60'' W)
* * * * *
Paragraph 2007 Canadian Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
Q-947 [Removed]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 31, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-19290 Filed 9-7-22; 8:45 am]
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