[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77053-77055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21454]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2226; Airspace Docket No. 24-ASW-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of RNAV Route Q-33 in the Vicinity of Winnfield, LA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation 
(RNAV) Route Q-33. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
portion of the Sawmill, LA (SWB), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment 
(VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Sawmill VOR is being 
decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network 
(MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 4, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-2226 and 
Airspace Docket No. 24-ASW-1 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11J, 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, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 600 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 77054]]

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 National Airspace System as necessary 
to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain 
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments 
are filed in writing.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light 
of the comments it receives.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and 
hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during 
normal business hours at the office of the Operations Support Group, 
Central Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Incorporation by Reference

    United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 
2006 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 proposes to amend the current version of that 
order, FAA Order JO 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective 
September 15, 2024. These updates would be published in the next update 
to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in 
the ADDRESSES section of this document.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11J lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the Sawmill, 
LA, VOR/DME in April 2025. The Sawmill VOR is one of the candidate VORs 
identified for discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON program and listed 
in the Final policy statement notice, ``Provision of Navigation 
Services for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) 
Transition to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing 
a VOR Minimum Operational Network),'' published in the Federal Register 
on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Sawmill VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located DME is being retained to continue 
providing service supporting current and future NextGen PBN flight 
procedure requirements.
    The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the planned 
decommissioning of the Sawmill VOR are Jet Route J-180 and RNAV Route 
Q-33. Proposed amendments to J-180 have been published previously in a 
separate NPRM so that route is not addressed further in this action. 
With the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Sawmill VOR/
DME, the remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is 
insufficient to enable the continuity of RNAV route Q-33. As such, 
proposed modifications to Q-33 would result in the existing route being 
retained by replacing the Sawmill VOR/DME route point with a Waypoint 
(WP) in the immediate vicinity of the NAVAID. Additionally, the FAA is 
proposing to replace the Daisetta, TX, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation 
(VORTAC) route point with a WP in the immediate vicinity of that 
NAVAID, as well.
    RNAV-equipped aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules 
(IFR) would continue to be able to navigate using Q-33 to transit the 
area affected by the planned decommissioning of the Sawmill VOR and the 
changed Daisetta VORTAC route point or receive radar vectors from air 
traffic control (ATC).

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend RNAV 
Route Q-33 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Sawmill, LA, VOR/DME. The proposed Q-33 amendment is described below.
    Q-33: Q-33 currently extends between the Humble, TX, VORTAC and the 
PROWL, MO, WP. The FAA proposes to replace the Sawmill, LA, VOR/DME 
route point with the SWEUP, LA, WP and replace the Daisetta, TX, VORTAC 
route point with the TAYUR, TX, WP. Both WPs would be established in 
the immediate vicinity of the NAVAIDs they are replacing and result in 
extremely minor alignment changes of the route. As amended, the route 
would continue to extend between the Humble VORTAC and the PROWL WP.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this proposed 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 
will

[[Page 77055]]

only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified 
that this proposed rule, when promulgated, will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the 
criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 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 
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-33 Humble, TX (IAH) to PROWL, MO [Amended]
 
Humble, TX (IAH)              VORTAC              (Lat. 29[deg]57'24.90'' N, long. 095[deg]20'44.59'' W)
TAYUR, TX                     WP                  (Lat. 30[deg]11'23.40'' N, long. 094[deg]38'41.48'' W)
SWEUP, LA                     WP                  (Lat. 31[deg]58'23.07'' N, long. 092[deg]40'38.00'' W)
LITTR, AR                     WP                  (Lat. 34[deg]40'39.90'' N, long. 092[deg]10'49.26'' W)
PROWL, MO                     WP                  (Lat. 37[deg]02'00.00'' N, long. 091[deg]15'00.00'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 16, 2024,
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-21454 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P