[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4081-4083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01235]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1107; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-1]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-156 and V-285 in the Vicinity
of Kalamazoo, MI
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional
Range (VOR) Federal airways V-156 and V-285. The FAA is taking this
action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
Kalamazoo, MI (AZO), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME)
navigational aid (NAVAID). The Kalamazoo VOR is being decommissioned in
support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, April 20, 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.
[[Page 4082]]
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 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 (NPRM) for Docket
No. FAA-2022-1107 in the Federal Register (87 FR 55926; September 13,
2022), amending VOR Federal airways V-156 and V-285 due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME.
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were
received.
VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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 VOR Federal
airway actions listed in this document will be published subsequently
in FAA Order JO 7400.11.
Differences From the NPRM
Subsequent to the NPRM, the FAA published a rule for Docket No.
FAA-2021-0822 in the Federal Register (88 FR 2816: January 18, 2023),
amending VOR Federal airway V-285 by removing the airway segment
between the Brickyard, IN, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the
Goshen, IN, VORTAC. That airway amendment, effective April 20, 2023, is
included in this rule.
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 VOR Federal airways
V-156 and V-285 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion
of the Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME. The airway actions are described below.
V-156: V-156 extends between the Cedar Rapids, IA, VOR/DME and the
Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME. The airway segment overlying the Kalamazoo VOR/
DME between the Gipper, MI, VORTAC and the Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME is
removed. As amended, the airway is changed to extend between the Cedar
Rapids VOR/DME and the Gipper VORTAC.
V-285: V-285 extends between the Goshen, IN, VORTAC and the
Victory, MI, VOR/DME. The airway segment overlying the Kalamazoo VOR/
DME between the Goshen, IN, VORTAC and the Victory, MI, VOR/DME is
removed. As amended, the airway is removed in its entirety.
The NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway V-156
description below are unchanged and stated in degrees True north.
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 action of amending VOR Federal
airways V-156 and V-285 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR
portion of the Kalamazoo, MI, 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) and paragraph 5-6.5k,
which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review
the publication of existing air traffic control procedures that do not
essentially change existing tracks, create new tracks, change altitude,
or change concentration of aircraft on these tracks. 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. 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:
[[Page 4083]]
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 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal airways.
* * * * *
V-156 [Amended]
From Cedar Rapids, IA; Moline, IL; Bradford, IL; Peotone, IL;
INT Peotone 098[deg] and Knox, IN, 238[deg] radials; Knox; to
Gipper, MI.
* * * * *
V-285 [Removed]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 18, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-01235 Filed 1-23-23; 8:45 am]
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