[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65519-65520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22189]
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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. 209 / Monday, October 31, 2022 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 65519]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2021-1153; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-76]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-278;
Sisters Island, 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-278 in the vicinity of Sisters Island, AK, in support of a large and
comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, December 29, 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 7400.11G, 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: 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-2021-1153 in the Federal Register (86 FR 74002; December 29,
2021), amending RNAV route T-278 in the vicinity of Sisters Island, 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 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective
September 15, 2022, 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 NPRM, the HAPIT, AK, Fix was incorrectly listed as a
waypoint (WP) in the T-278 route description in the proposed amendment
to part 71; however, it was correctly listed as a Fix in the
``Background'' and ``The Proposal'' sections in the preamble. This
action corrects the error and lists all HAPIT, AK, route point
references as a Fix.
Additionally, the CSPER, AK, Fix was incorrectly listed as a WP in
the ``Background'' section of the preamble and in the T-278 route
description in the proposed amendment to part 71. This action corrects
that error and lists the CSPER, AK, route point as a Fix in the T-278
route description.
Lastly, the RADKY, AK, Fix was incorrectly listed as a WP in the
``Background'' and ``The Proposal'' sections of the preamble; however,
it was correctly listed in the T-278 route description in the proposed
amendment to part 71 as a Fix. This action corrects those errors and
lists all RADKY, AK, route point references as a Fix.
These corrections are editorial only and do not change the
alignment of T-278.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations
and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September
15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11G 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-278 in
the vicinity of Sisters Island, AK, in support of a large and
comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.
The route amendment is described below.
T-278: T-278 extends between the HAPIT, AK, Fix and the Sisters
Island, AK (SSR), VHF Omnidirectional Radar/Tactical Air Navigational
(VORTAC) navigational aid. The route is amended by adding two new route
points and extending the route eastward from the Sisters Island VORTAC
to the RADKY, AK, Fix. The resulting T-route will extend between the
HAPIT, AK, Fix and the RADKY, AK, Fix.
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;
[[Page 65520]]
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-278 in the vicinity of Sisters Island, 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.
Sec. 71.1 [Amended]
0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19,
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-278 HAPIT, AK to RADKY, AK [Amended]
HAPIT, AK FIX (Lat. 58[deg]11'57.57'' N, long. 137[deg]31'12.45'' W)
CSPER, AK FIX (Lat. 58[deg]11'44.47'' N, long. 136[deg]38'37.44'' W)
BIKUW, AK WP (Lat. 58[deg]16'59.40'' N, long. 135[deg]48'31.20'' W)
Sisters Island, AK (SSR) VORTAC (Lat. 58[deg]10'39.58'' N, long. 135[deg]15'31.91'' W)
RADKY, AK FIX (Lat. 58[deg]08'00.39'' N, long. 134[deg]29'55.53'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 5, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-22189 Filed 10-28-22; 8:45 am]
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