[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18026-18028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06102]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1424; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-11]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-268 and V-474, Revocation of
Jet Route J-518 and VOR Federal Airway V-119, and Establishment of Area
Navigation Route Q-178 in the Vicinity of Indian Head, PA
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-268 and V-474, revokes Jet Route J-518
and VOR Federal airway V-119, and establishes Area Navigation (RNAV)
route Q-178. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Indian Head, PA, VOR/Tactical
Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Indian Head VOR
is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational
Network (MON) program.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, June 15, 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: A copy of the NPRM, all comments received, this final rule,
and all background material may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov
using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines
are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365
days each year.
FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points,
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, 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 would modify the ATS 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-2022-1424 in the Federal Register (87 FR 72904; November 28, 2022),
amending VOR Federal airways V-268 and V-474, revoking Jet Route J-518
and VOR Federal airway V-119, and establishing Area Navigation (RNAV)
route Q-178 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of
the Indian Head, PA, VORTAC NAVAID. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal. No comments were received.
Differences From the NPRM
In the NPRM, the FAA erroneously stated that, although the VOR
portion of the Indian Head VORTAC was planned for decommissioning, the
co-located Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) would be retained.
Instead, the co-located Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) is being
retained to provide navigational service for military operations and
DME service in support of current and future Next Generation Air
Transportation System Performance Based Navigation procedures. This
does not affect the changes to the airways in this rule.
Incorporation by Reference
Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004, United States Area
Navigation Routes (Q-routes) are published in
[[Page 18027]]
paragraph 2006, and VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph
6010(a) of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting
Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual
basis. This document amends the current version of that order, FAA
Order JO 7400.11G, 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. These amendments will be published
in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
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-268 and V-474, revoking Jet Route J-518 and VOR Federal airway V-119,
and establishing RNAV route Q-178. The Air Traffic Service (ATS) route
amendments, revocations, and establishment are required due to the
planned decommissioning of the Indian Head, PA, VOR and are described
below.
J-518: J-518 extends between the Dryer, OH, VOR/Distance Measuring
Equipment (VOR/DME) and the Baltimore, MD, VORTAC via the Indian Head,
PA, VORTAC. The route is removed in its entirety.
Q-178: Q-178 is a new RNAV route extending between the Dryer, OH,
VOR/DME and the Baltimore, MD, VORTAC via the LEJOY, PA, Fix located
approximately 4 nautical miles (NM) northwest of the Indian Head
VORTAC. The new Q-178 provides the high altitude enroute structure
necessary to replace the loss of J-518 and maintain the connectivity to
multiple instrument approach procedures for various airports.
V-119: V-119 extends between the Parkersburg, WV, VOR/DME and the
Indian Head, PA, VORTAC. The airway is removed in its entirety.
V-268: V-268 extends between the intersection of the Morgantown,
WV, VOR/DME 010[deg] and Johnstown, PA, VOR/DME 260[deg] radials (NESTO
Fix) and the Augusta, ME, VOR/DME. The airspace within restricted area
R-4001B and the airspace below 2,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) outside
the United States is excluded. The airway segment overlying the Indian
Head VORTAC between the NESTO Fix and the Hagerstown, MD, VOR is
removed. As amended, the airway extends between the Hagerstown VOR and
the Augusta VOR/DME. The exclusionary language remains unchanged.
V-474: V-474 extends between the intersection of the Morgantown,
WV, VOR/DME 010[deg] and Johnstown, PA, VOR/DME 260[deg] radials (NESTO
Fix) and the Modena, PA, VORTAC. The airway segment overlying the
Indian Head VORTAC between the NESTO Fix and the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC
is removed. As amended, the airway extends between the St. Thomas
VORTAC and the Modena VORTAC.
The NAVAID radials listed in the ATS route descriptions below are
unchanged and stated in degrees True north.
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 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 amending VOR Federal
airways V-268 and V-474, revoking Jet Route J-518 and VOR Federal
airway V-119, and establishing RNAV route Q-178, due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Indian Head, PA, VORTAC
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:
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 2004 Jet Routes.
* * * * *
J-518 [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
Q-178 Dryer, OH (DJB) to Baltimore, MD (BAL) [New]
Dryer, OH (DJB) VOR/DME (Lat. 41[deg]21'29.03'' N, long. 082[deg]09'43.09'' W)
LEJOY, PA FIX (Lat. 40[deg]00'12.22'' N, long. 079[deg]24'53.61'' W)
Baltimore, MD (BAL) VORTAC (Lat. 39[deg]10'15.83'' N, long. 076[deg]39'40.52'' W)
[[Page 18028]]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal airways.
* * * * *
V-119 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-268 [Amended]
From Hagerstown, MD; Westminster, MD; Baltimore, MD; INT
Baltimore 093[deg] and Smyrna, DE, 262[deg] radials; Smyrna; INT
Smyrna 086[deg] and Sea Isle, NJ, 050[deg] radials; INT Sea Isle
050[deg] and Hampton, NY, 223[deg] radials; Hampton; Sandy Point,
RI; INT Sandy Point 031[deg] and Kennebunk, ME, 180[deg] radials;
INT Kennebunk 180[deg] and Boston, MA, 032[deg] radials; INT Boston
032[deg] and Augusta, ME, 195[deg] radials; to Augusta. The airspace
within R-4001B and the airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the
United States is excluded.
* * * * *
V-474 [Amended]
From St. Thomas, PA; INT St. Thomas 088[deg] and Modena, PA,
274[deg] radials; to Modena.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-06102 Filed 3-24-23; 8:45 am]
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