[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31603-31604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08672]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2247; Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-132 and Revocation of VOR 
Federal Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350 in the Vicinity of Chanute, KS

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-132 and revokes VOR Federal Airways V-131, V-
307, and V-350. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Chanute, KS (CNU), VOR/
Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The 
Chanute VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, July 11, 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: 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 Air Traffic Service (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-2023-2247 in the Federal Register (88 FR 78265; November 15, 2023), 
proposing to amend VOR Federal Airway V-132 and revoke VOR Federal 
Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350 due to the planned decommissioning of 
the VOR portion of the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME 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

    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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.

[[Page 31604]]

    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-
132 and revoking VOR Federal Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350 due to the 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME 
NAVAID. The airway actions are described below.
    V-131: Prior to this final rule, V-131 extended between the 
Okmulgee, OK, VOR/DME and the Topeka, KS, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation 
(VORTAC). The airway segment between the Tulsa, OK, VORTAC and the 
Topeka VORTAC is removed due to the planned decommissioning of the 
Chanute VOR. Additionally, the airway segment between the Okmulgee VOR/
DME and the Tulsa VORTAC is also removed since that airway segment 
overlaps V-161, which will remain charted and provide navigational 
guidance between the two NAVAIDs. As a result, the airway is removed in 
its entirety.
    V-132: Prior to this final rule, V-132 extended between the 
Medicine Bow, WY, VOR/DME and the intersection of the Forney, MO, VOR 
086[deg] and Vichy, MO, VOR/DME 156[deg] radials (LENOX Fix), excluding 
that portion of the airway within restricted areas R-4501A, R-4501B, R-
4501C, and R-4501D during their time of activation. The airway segment 
between the Hutchinson, KS, VOR/DME and the Springfield, MO, VORTAC is 
removed. Additionally, that portion of the airway within restricted 
areas R-4501E, R-4501F, and R-4501H is also excluded during the 
restricted areas times of activation since those restricted areas also 
fall within 4 nautical miles of the airway. As amended, the airway is 
changed to now extend between the Medicine Bow VOR/DME and the 
Hutchinson VOR/DME, and between the Springfield VORTAC and the 
intersection of the Forney VOR 086[deg] and Vichy VOR/DME 156[deg] 
radials (LENOX Fix), excluding the portion within all 7 restricted 
areas of the R-4501 restricted area complex.
    V-307: Prior to this final rule, V-307 extended between the 
Chanute, KS, VOR/DME and the Emporia, KS, VORTAC. The airway is removed 
in its entirety.
    V-350: Prior to this final rule, V-350 extended between the 
Wichita, KS, VORTAC and the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME. The airway is removed 
in its entirety.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the V-132 description in the 
regulatory text of this final rule 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 amending VOR Federal 
Airway V-132 and revoking VOR Federal Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350, 
due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Chanute, 
KS, VOR/DME 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); 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 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-131 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-132 [Amended]

    From Medicine Bow, WY; INT Medicine Bow 106[deg] and Cheyenne, 
WY, 330[deg] radials; Cheyenne; Akron, CO; 17 miles, 49 miles, 59 
MSL, Goodland, KS; 50 miles, 97 miles, 65 MSL, to Hutchinson, KS. 
From Springfield, MO; INT Springfield 058[deg] and Forney, MO, 
266[deg] radials; Forney; to INT Forney 086[deg] and Vichy, MO, 
156[deg] radials, excluding that portion within R-4501A, R-4501B, R-
4501C, R-4501D, R-4501E, R-4501F, and R-4501H during their time of 
activation.
* * * * *

V-307 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-350 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 18, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-08672 Filed 4-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P