[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48361-48362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15589]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0430; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-75]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-277;
Point Lay, AK.
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends RNAV route T-277 in the vicinity of Point
Lay, AK, due to the planned decommissioning of the Point Lay, AK (PIZ),
Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB). The Point Lay, AK, NDB 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 expand the availability of RNAV in Alaska and
improve the efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace
System (NAS) by lessoning the dependency on ground-based navigation.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA 2022-0430 in the Federal Register (87 FR 26705; May 5, 2022),
proposing to amend RNAV route T-277. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal to the FAA. One comment was received regarding procedural
aspects of how to transition between ground-based and satellite-based
airway structures. Specifically, the commenter referenced Colored
Airways B-2, G-16, and G-18 no longer intersecting with RNAV route T-
277 because the colored airways use the Point Lay, AK, NDB and T-277,
as amended, uses the JODGU waypoint. The commenter also stated that
they are supportive of the proposed rule and encouraged its adoption.
The FAA is transitioning the NAS away from Low-Frequency NDB-based
navigational airways, including the area around the Point Lay, AK
(PIZ), NDB. PIZ is planned for decommissioning in the fall of 2024. The
colored airways associated with PIZ are B-2, G-16, and G-18. On
December 2, 2022, the FAA published a final rule in the Federal
Register (87 FR 73928) revoking G18 and on January 17, 2023, published
an NPRM in the Federal Register (88 FR 2561) proposing to revoke B-2.
Additionally, the FAA plans to propose to revoke G-16. The FAA
acknowledges there is no current guidance explaining how to transition
between ground-based and satellite-based airway structures; however,
the proposed action for T-277, collectively with existing RNAV routes
T-267 and T-366, provide replacement routing options in the Point Lay,
AK, area and negate the need for transitions between ground-based and
satellite-based enroute structures.
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-277 in
the vicinity of Point Lay, AK in support of a large and comprehensive
T-route modernization project in the state of Alaska. The route
amendment replaces the Point Lay, AK, NDB with the JODGU waypoint. The
RNAV T-route amendment action is described below.
T-277: T-277 This action amends T-277 to extend between the
Bettles, AK, (BTT) very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range
(VOR) distance measuring equipment (VOR/DME) and the JODGU, AK,
waypoint. Previously, T-277 extended between the Bettles, AK, (BTT)
VOR/DME and the Point Lay, AK (PIZ) NBD.
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.
[[Page 48362]]
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this action of establishing RNAV route
T-277, in the vicinity of Point Lay, AK 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-277 Bettles, AK (BTT) to JODGU, AK [Amended]
Bettles, AK (BTT) VOR/DME (Lat. 66[deg]54'18.03'' N, long. 151[deg]32'09.18'' W)
JODGU, AK WP (Lat. 69[deg]44'11.47'' N, long. 163[deg]00'04.08'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 18, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-15589 Filed 7-26-23; 8:45 am]
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