[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 42 (Friday, March 1, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15015-15016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04331]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1829; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASO-5]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal Airway V-9; Arkansas

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal Airway V-9 in Arkansas to support the Department of 
Defense's (DoD) request for connectivity between the Marvell, AR (UJM), 
VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and the Farmington, MO (FAM), 
VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) creating a longer contiguous 
airway simplifying flight planning along this route segment.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, May 16, 2024. 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 7400.11H, 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: Brian Vidis, 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 Air Traffic Service (ATS) route structure 
as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic 
within the National Airspace System (NAS).

History

    The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA 2023-1829 in the 
Federal Register (88 FR 68512; October 4, 2023), proposing to amend V-9 
in Arkansas. Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
FAA. No comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010 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 
7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. FAA 
Order JO 7400.11H 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 7400.11H 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 Airway V-
9 in Arkansas by adding a segment between the Marvel, AR (UJM), VOR/DME 
and the Farmington, MO, FAM), VORTAC creating a longer contiguous 
airway in support of the DoD's request to simplify flight planning 
along this route segment. The amendment is described below.
    V-9: Prior to this final rule, V-9 extended between the Leeville, 
LA (LEV), VORTAC and the Marvell, AR (UJM), VOR/DME; between the 
Farmington, MO (FAM), VORTAC and the Pontiac, IL (PNT), VOR/DME; and 
between the Janesville, WI (JVL), VOR/DME and the Houghton, MI (CMX), 
VOR/DME. The FAA establishes V-9 between the Marvell VOR/DME and the 
Farmington VORTAC which creates a longer contiguous airway. As amended, 
the route is changed to now extend between the Leeville VORTAC and the 
Pontiac VOR/DME, and between the Janesville VOR/DME and the Houghton 
VOR/DME.
    All radials listed in the VOR Federal airway description in the 
Amendment section below are 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

[[Page 15016]]

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 
Airway V-9 in the eastern United States, 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 5-6.5b, which categorically excludes from further 
environmental impact review ``Actions regarding establishment of jet 
routes and Federal airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, Designation of jet routes 
and VOR Federal airways). . .''. As such, this airspace action is not 
expected to cause 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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-9 [Amended]

    From Leeville, LA; McComb, MS; INT McComb 004[deg] and Magnolia, 
MS 194[deg] radials; Magnolia; Sidon, MS; Marvell, AR; INT Marvell 
326[deg] and Walnut Ridge, AR 187[deg] radials; Walnut Ridge; 
Farmington, MO; St. Louis, MO; Spinner, IL; to Pontiac, IL. From 
Janesville, WI; Madison, WI; Oshkosh, WI; Green Bay, WI; Iron 
Mountain, MI; to Houghton, MI.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-04331 Filed 2-29-24; 8:45 am]
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