[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48358-48359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15905]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0197; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-17]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-226; 
Central, 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-226 in the vicinity of Central, AK, in support 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 expands the availability of RNAV in Alaska and improves 
the efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System 
(NAS) by lessening the dependency on ground-based navigation.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2022-0197 in the 
Federal Register (87 FR 13666; March 10, 2022), amending RNAV route T-
226 in the vicinity of Central, AK, in support of a large and 
comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting comments on the proposal. One positive comment was 
received.
    The commenter supported the FAA's Next Generation Transportation 
System (NextGen) NAS transition efforts and the proposal to remove the 
waypoints (WP) not required for T-226 in the affected areas in the 
State of Alaska. The commenter offered that the FAA's actions were 
beneficial to improving compliance results, creating a better safety 
culture, and preventing accidents along the air routes. The commentor 
closed with support for the FAA's approval of the proposed action.

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-226 in 
the vicinity of Central, AK, in support of a large comprehensive T-
route modernization project for the state of Alaska. The amendment is 
described below.
    T-226: T-226 extends between the Johnstone Point, AK, Very High 
Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment 
(VOR/DME) and the Fort Yukon, AK, VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical 
Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid. This action removes the 
FIDAL, AK; ROBES, AK; KLUNG, AK; DOZEY, AK; PAXON, AK; and DONEL, AK, 
Fixes and the HEXAX, AK, WP from the route description since they are 
not required to retain the route's structure. The Fixes and WP will 
remain in the National Airspace System Resource database and continue 
to be depicted on IFR En Route charts.

[[Page 48359]]

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 airspace action of amending RNAV 
route T-226 in the vicinity of Central, 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-
6.5i, which categorically excludes from further environmental 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.

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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-226 Johnstone Point, AK (JOH) to Fort Yukon, AK (FYU) [Amended]
Johnstone Point, AK (JOH)                       VOR/DME                        (Lat. 60[deg]28'51.43'' N, long. 146[deg]35'57.61'' W)
Gulkana, AK (GKN)                               VOR/DME                        (Lat. 62[deg]09'13.51'' N, long. 145[deg]26'50.51'' W)
Big Delta, AK (BIG)                             VORTAC                         (Lat. 64[deg]00'16.06'' N, long. 145[deg]43'02.09'' W)
Fort Yukon, AK (FYU)                            VORTAC                         (Lat. 66[deg]34'27.31'' N, long. 145[deg]16'35.97'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-15905 Filed 7-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P