[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 140 (Monday, July 24, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47359-47361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15588]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0435; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-73]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-270; in 
the Vicinity of Shishmaref, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route 
T-270, in the vicinity of Shishmaref, AK. The RNAV route amendments are 
necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Shishmaref, AK 
(SHH), Non-Directional Beacons (NDB) and the Norton Bay, AK (OAY), NDB. 
Both NDBs will be decommissioned as part of a large and comprehensive 
T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

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: Steven Roff, 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 route structure as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National 
Airspace System (NAS).

[[Page 47360]]

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2022-0435 in the Federal Register (87 FR 24483; April 26, 2022), 
amending RNAV route T-270. 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 proposal section of the NPRM, the Shishmaref, AK, 
Navigational Aid (NAVAID) was inadvertently identified as a very high 
frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR)/distance measuring 
equipment (VOR/DME). The Shishmaref, AK, NAVAID is an NDB.

Incorporation by Reference

    United States Area Navigation 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 amending RNAV route T-270 in 
the vicinity of Shishmaref, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive 
T-Route modernization project in the state of Alaska. The route 
amendment replaces the Norton Bay, AK, and Shishmaref, AK, NDBs with 
the HALUS, AK and HIPIV, AK waypoints (WP), respectively due to the 
NDBs decommissioning. This route amendment also removes the HEXOG, AK, 
WP from the T-270 route description due to it having less than a 1 
degree turn and is not required. Finally, the order of the T-route will 
be reversed in the published legal description to comply with current 
guidance in FAA Order JO 7400.2.
    The RNAV T-route amendment action is described below.
    T-270: T-270 extends between the HIPIV, AK, WP and the HALUS, AK, 
WP. T-270 no longer includes HEXOG, AK, waypoint on its route 
description.

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 themoperationally 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 RNAV route T-
270 due to the planned decommissioning of the Shishmaref, AK (SHH), NDB 
and the Norton Bay, AK (OAY), NDB 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-
6.5.i, 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. 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. Accordingly, the FAA has determined that no extraordinary 
circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental 
assessment or environmental impact study.

Lists 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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-270 HIPIV, AK to HALUS, AK [Amended]
 
HIPIV, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 66[deg]15'29.11'' N, long. 166[deg]03'23.59'' W)
HALUS, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 64[deg]41'43.78'' N, long. 162[deg]04'03.53'' W)
 


[[Page 47361]]

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 18, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-15588 Filed 7-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P