[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18029-18031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06103]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1436; Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-13]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-50, V-52, V-63, and V-586, and
Revocation of V-582 in the Vicinity of Quincy, IL
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-50,
[[Page 18030]]
V-52, V-63, and V-586, and revokes VOR Federal airway V-582. The FAA is
taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR
portion of the Quincy, IL (UIN), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC)
navigational aid (NAVAID). The Quincy 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-2022-1436 in the Federal Register (87 FR 80095; December 29, 2022),
amending VOR Federal airways V-50, V-52, V-63, and V-586, and revoking
VOR Federal airway V-582 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR
portion of the Quincy, IL, 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 Quincy, IL, 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
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-50, V-52, V-63, and V-586, and revoking VOR Federal airway V-582 due
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Quincy, IL,
VORTAC. The airway actions are described below.
V-50: V-50 extends between the St Joseph, MO, VORTAC and the
Dayton, OH, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME). The airway
segment overlying the Quincy VORTAC between the Kirksville, MO, VORTAC
and the Spinner, IL, VORTAC is removed. As amended, the airway extends
between the St Joseph VORTAC and the Kirksville VORTAC and between the
Spinner VORTAC and the Dayton VOR/DME.
V-52: V-52 extends between the Des Moines, IA, VORTAC and the
Pocket City, IN, VORTAC. The airway segment overlying the Quincy VORTAC
between the Ottumwa, IA, VOR/DME and the St Louis, MO, VORTAC is
removed. As amended, the airway extends between the Des Moines VORTAC
and the Ottumwa VOR/DME and between the St Louis VORTAC and the Pocket
City VORTAC.
V-63: V-63 extends between the Razorback, AR, VORTAC and the
Davenport, IA, VORTAC; between the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME and the
Oshkosh, WI, VORTAC; and between the Rhinelander, WI, VOR/DME and the
Houghton, MI, VOR/DME. The airspace at and above 10,000 feet mean sea
level (MSL) from 5 nautical miles (NM) north to 46 NM north of Quincy,
IL, is excluded when the Howard West Military Operations Area (MOA) is
active. The airway segment overlying the Quincy VORTAC between the
Hallsville, MO, VORTAC and the Burlington, IL, VOR/DME is removed. The
airspace exclusion language addressing the Howard West MOA activations
is also removed as the amended airway no longer overlaps the Howard
West MOA. As amended, the airway extends between the Razorback VORTAC
and the Hallsville VORTAC, between the Burlington VOR/DME and the
Davenport VORTAC, between the Janesville VOR/DME and the Oshkosh
VORTAC, and between the Rhinelander VOR/DME and the Houghton VOR/DME.
V-582: V-582 extends between the St. Louis, MO, VORTAC and the
Quincy, IL, VORTAC. The airway is removed in its entirety.
V-586: V-586 extends between the Quincy, IL, VORTAC and the Joliet,
IL, VOR/DME. The airway segment overlying the Quincy VORTAC between the
Quincy, IL, VORTAC and the Peoria, IL, VORTAC is removed. As amended,
the airway extends between the Peoria VORTAC and the Joliet VOR/DME.
The NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway V-52
description 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
[[Page 18031]]
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-50, V-52, V-63, and V-586, and revoking VOR Federal airway V-
582, due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
Quincy, IL, 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 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal airways.
* * * * *
V-50 [Amended]
From St Joseph, MO; to Kirksville, MO. From Spinner, IL; Adders,
IL; Terre Haute, IN; Brickyard, IN; to Dayton, OH.
* * * * *
V-52 [Amended]
From Des Moines, IA; to Ottumwa, IA. From St Louis, MO; Troy,
IL; INT Troy 099[deg] and Pocket City, IN, 311[deg] radials; to
Pocket City.
* * * * *
V-63 [Amended]
From Razorback, AR; Springfield, MO; to Hallsville, MO. From
Burlington, IA; Moline, IL; to Davenport, IA. From Janesville, WI;
Badger, WI; to Oshkosh, WI. From Rhinelander, WI; to Houghton, MI.
* * * * *
V-582 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-586 [Amended]
From Peoria, IL; Pontiac, IL; to Joliet, IL.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-06103 Filed 3-24-23; 8:45 am]
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