[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 7, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 74965-74966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26490]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0858; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-5]
RIN 2120-AA66
Establishment and Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes;
Eastern United States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action establishes Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-141 and
amends RNAV route Q-437 in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic
Coast Route Project.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, February 23, 2023. 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: 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-2022-0858 in the Federal Register (87 FR 45719; July 29, 2022), to
establish Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-141 and amend RNAV route Q-437
in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project.
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 7400.11G dated August 19, 2022, and effective
September 15, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1.
The RNAV routes listed in this document will be published subsequently
in FAA Order JO 7400.11.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.G, 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 establishing RNAV route Q-141,
and amending RNAV route Q-437 in the eastern United States in support
of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route project.
Q-141: Q-141 is a new route that extends from the HOUKY, VA,
waypoint (WP) (located in the vicinity of the Hopewell, VA (HPW), VHF
Omnidirectional Range and Tactical Air Navigational System (VORTAC)) to
the NALES, DE, WP. Q-141 expands the availability of RNAV routing in
the area.
Q-437: Q-437 extends from the VILLS, NJ, Fix, (located northwest of
the Sea Isle, NJ (SIE), VORTAC to the SLANG, VT, WP (located northeast
of the Cambridge, NY (CAM), VHF Omnidirectional Range/Distance
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME)). The FAA is terminating the route at the
LLUND, NY, Fix (located north of the Kennedy, NY (JFK), VOR/DME). All
points north of the LLUND Fix (i.e., BINGS, WARUV, and SLANG) are
removed from the route. This is based on low demand for those segments
and is a better fit traffic flows in the area. Additionally, the LUIGI,
NJ, Fix is removed from the route description because it does not mark
a turn point.
The full descriptions of Q-141 and Q-437 are listed in the
amendments to part 71 set forth below.
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 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 establishing RNAV route
Q-141 and amending Q-437 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
[[Page 74966]]
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
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19,
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
Q-141 HOUKY, VA to NALES, DE [New]
HOUKY, VA WP (Lat. 37[deg]19'55.98'' N, long. 077[deg]07'57.63'' W)
TAPPA, VA FIX (Lat. 37[deg]58'12.66'' N, long. 076[deg]50'40.62'' W)
HYTRA, MD WP (Lat. 38[deg]17'31.91'' N, long. 076[deg]24'49.80'' W)
BLNTN, MD WP (Lat. 38[deg]44'10.33'' N, long. 075[deg]59'02.69'' W)
NALES, DE FIX (Lat. 38[deg]53'35.20'' N, long. 075[deg]38'11.13'' W)
* * * * * * *
Q-437 VILLS, NJ to LLUND, NY [Amended]
VILLS, NJ FIX (Lat. 39[deg]18'03.87'' N, long. 075[deg]06'37.90'' W)
DITCH, NJ FIX (Lat. 39[deg]47'37.86'' N, long. 074[deg]42'59.88'' W)
HNNAH, NJ WP (Lat. 40[deg]28'12.73'' N, long. 074[deg]02'36.62'' W)
LLUND, NY FIX (Lat. 40[deg]51'45.04'' N, long. 073[deg]46'57.30'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 30, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-26490 Filed 12-6-22; 8:45 am]
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