[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46685-46687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15312]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0328; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASO-37]
RIN 2120-AA66
Revocation, Amendment, and Establishment of Air Traffic Service
(ATS) Routes Due to the Decommissioning of the Greene County, MS, VOR
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action removes Jet Route J-590, amends Very High
Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-11 and V-
70, and establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-365.
The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the
VOR portion of the Greene County, MS (GCV), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation
(VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Greene County VOR is being
decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network
(MON) program.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, October 5, 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 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (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 modifies 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-2023-0328 in the Federal Register (88 FR 13737; March 6, 2023),
proposing
[[Page 46686]]
to remove Jet Route J-590, amend VOR Federal airways V-11 and V-70, and
establish RNAV route T-365 due to the planned decommissioning of the
VOR portion of the Greene County, MS, VORTAC NAVAID. Interested parties
were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting
written comments on the proposal. No comments were received.
Incorporation by Reference
Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004, VOR Federal airways are
published in paragraph 6010(a), and United States Area Navigation
Routes (T-routes) are published in paragraph 6011 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 removing Jet Route J-590,
amending VOR Federal airways V-11 and V-70, and establishing RNAV route
T-365 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
Greene County, MS, VORTAC. The ATS route actions are described below.
J-590: J-590 is removed in its entirety.
V-11: V-11 extends between the Brookley, AL, VORTAC and the
Magnolia, MS, VORTAC; and between the Cunningham, KY, VOR/Distance
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and the intersection of the Fort Wayne,
IN, VORTAC 038[deg] and Flag City, OH, VORTAC 308[deg] radials (EDGEE
fix). The airway segment overlying the Greene County VORTAC between the
Brookley VORTAC and the Magnolia VORTAC is removed. As amended, the
airway extends between the Cunningham VOR/DME and the intersection of
the Fort Wayne VORTAC 038[deg] and Flag City VORTAC 308[deg] radials
(EDGEE fix).
V-70: V-70 extends between the Monterrey, Mexico, VOR/DME and the
Allendale, SC, VOR; and between the Grand Strand, SC, VORTAC and the
Cofield, NC, VORTAC. The airspace within Mexico is excluded. The airway
segment overlying the Greene County VORTAC between the Picayune, MS,
VOR/DME and the Monroeville, AL, VORTAC is removed. As amended, the
airway extends between the Monterrey, Mexico, VOR/DME and the Picayune
VOR/DME, between the Monroeville VORTAC and the Allendale VOR, and
between the Grand Strand VORTAC and the Cofield VORTAC.
T-365: T-365 is a new RNAV route that extends between the Brookley,
AL, VORTAC and the Magnolia, MS, VORTAC. This T-route mitigates the
loss of the V-11 airway segment removed and provides RNAV routing
capability between the Mobile, AL, area northwestward to the Jackson,
MS, area.
All NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway descriptions in
the Amendment section 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 removing Jet Route J-
590, amending VOR Federal airways V-11 and V-70, and establishing RNAV
route T-365, due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of
the Greene County, MS, 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); paragraph 5-6.5j,
which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review
implementation of procedures to respond to emergency air or ground
safety needs, accidents, or natural events with no reasonably
foreseeable long-term adverse impacts; and paragraph 5-6.5k, which
categorically excludes from further environmental impact review
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 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-590 [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-11 [Amended]
From Cunningham, KY; Pocket City, IN; Brickyard, IN; Marion, IN;
Fort Wayne, IN; to
[[Page 46687]]
INT Fort Wayne 038[deg] and Flag City, OH, 308[deg] radials.
* * * * *
V-70 [Amended]
From Monterrey, Mexico; Brownsville, TX; INT Brownsville
338[deg] and Corpus Christi, TX, 193[deg] radials; 34 miles standard
width, 37 miles 7 miles wide (4 miles E and 3 miles W of
centerline), Corpus Christi; INT Corpus Christi 054[deg] and
Palacios, TX, 226[deg] radials; Palacios; Scholes, TX; Sabine Pass,
TX; Lake Charles, LA; Lafayette, LA; Fighting Tiger, LA; to
Picayune, MS. From Monroeville, AL; INT Monroeville 073[deg] and
Eufaula, AL, 258[deg] radials; Eufaula; Vienna, GA; to Allendale,
SC. From Grand Strand, SC; Wilmington, NC; Kinston, NC; INT Kinston
050[deg] and Cofield, NC, 186[deg] radials; to Cofield. The airspace
within Mexico is excluded.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-365 Brookley, AL (BFM) to Magnolia, MS (MHZ) [New]
Brookley, AL (BFM) VORTAC (Lat. 30[deg]36'45.80'' N, long. 088[deg]03'19.78'' W)
GARTS, MS WP (Lat. 31[deg]05'52.39'' N, long. 088[deg]29'10.68'' W)
Magnolia, MS (MHZ) VORTAC (Lat. 32[deg]26'02.65'' N, long. 090[deg]05'59.18'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 13, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-15312 Filed 7-19-23; 8:45 am]
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