[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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