[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5731-5733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01790]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1115; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-10]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of V-181 and T-400, and Revocation of V-250 and the
Yankton, SD, Low Altitude Reporting Point in the Vicinity of Yankton,
SD
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 airway V-181 and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-400
and revokes VOR Federal airway V-250 and the Yankton, SD, Low Altitude
Reporting Point. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Yankton, SD, VOR/Distance
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Yankton
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.
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
[[Page 5732]]
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-2022-1115 in the Federal Register (87 FR 58041; September 23,
2022), amending VOR Federal airway V-181 and RNAV route T-400 and
revoking VOR Federal airway V-250 and the Yankton, SD, Low Altitude
Reporting Point due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion
of the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME NAVAID. 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), United
States Area Navigation Routes (T-routes) are published in paragraph
6011, and Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points are published in
paragraph 7001 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 Air Traffic Service (ATS) route and low altitude
reporting point 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-2022-0248 in the Federal Register (87 FR 64695; October 26, 2022),
amending VOR Federal airway V-181 by removing the airway segment
between the Sioux Falls, SD, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and
the Fargo, ND, VOR/DME. That airway amendment, effective December 29,
2022, 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 airway V-
181 and RNAV route T-400 and revoking VOR Federal airway V-250 and the
Yankton, SD, low altitude reporting point. The ATS route and low
altitude reporting point amendments and revocations are due to the
planned decommissioning of the Yankton, SD, VOR. The ATS route and low
altitude reporting point actions are described below.
V-181: V-181 extends between the Kirksville, MO, VORTAC and the
Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC; and between the Fargo, ND, VOR/DME and the
Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME. The airway segment overlying the Yankton VOR/
DME between the Norfolk, NE, VOR/DME and the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC is
removed. As amended, the airway is changed to extend between the
Kirksville, MO, VORTAC and the Norfolk, NE, VOR/DME and between the
Fargo, ND, VOR/DME and the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME.
V-250: V-250 extends between the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC and the
Yankton, SD, VOR/DME. The airway is removed in its entirety.
T-400: T-400 extends between the LLUKY, NE, waypoint (WP) and the
ZOSAG, MN, WP. The IMUPP, SD, WP on the route is replaced with the
FIITS, SD, WP to define the route crossing point between T-400 and T-
405. The full T-400 route description is listed in the amendments to
part 71 as set forth below.
Yankton, SD: The Yankton, SD, low altitude reporting point is
removed.
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
airway V-181 and RNAV route T-400 and revoking VOR Federal airway V-250
and the Yankton, SD, Low Altitude Reporting Point, due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Yankton, SD, 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); 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); paragraph 5-6.5i,
which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 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; 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
[[Page 5733]]
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:
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-181 [Amended]
From Kirksville, MO; Lamoni, IA; Omaha, IA; to Norfolk, NE. From
Fargo, ND; to Grand Forks, ND.
* * * * *
V-250 [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-400 LLUKY, NE to ZOSAG, MN [Amended]
LLUKY, NE WP (Lat. 42[deg]29'20.26'' N, long. 098[deg]38'11.44'' W)
FIITS, SD WP (Lat. 42[deg]55'06.67'' N, long. 097[deg]23'06.12'' W)
DURWN, MN WP (Lat. 43[deg]38'48.91'' N, long. 095[deg]34'55.87'' W)
MEMCO, MN WP (Lat. 44[deg]13'11.42'' N, long. 093[deg]54'45.23'' W)
ZOSAG, MN WP (Lat. 44[deg]49'30.74'' N, long. 093[deg]26'34.08'' W)
* * * * *
Paragraph 7001 Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points.
* * * * *
Yankton, SD [Removed]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-01790 Filed 1-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P