[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 21, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21692-21693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09019]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2348; Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-53]
RIN 2120-AA66
Revocation of Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range
Federal Airway V-414 and Amendment of United States Area Navigation
Routes T-248 and T-250 in Alaska
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action revokes Alaskan Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-414 and amends United
States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-248 and T-250 in Alaska. These
actions are due to the decommissioning of the Nondirectional Radio
Beacon (NDB) portion of the Gambell NDB/distance measuring equipment
(DME) in Alaska.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, August 7, 2025. 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 7400.11J, 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: Steven Roff, Rules and Regulations
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 600
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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-2024-2348 in the Federal Register (89 FR 81406; October 8, 2024),
proposing to revoke Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-414 and amend RNAV
Routes T-248 and T-250 in Alaska. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal. No comments were received.
Differences From the NPRM
The NPRM proposed to replace the Gambell NDB/DME with a new
waypoint (WP) FOXNO. After the publication of the NPRM, the FAA decided
to retain the DME portion of the Gambell NDB/DME and continue with the
decommissioning of the NDB. With the retention of the DME portion of
the Gambell NDB/DME, the FOXNO WP will no longer be utilized by RNAV
Routes T-248 or T-250. This action updates the route descriptions for
T-248 and T-250 in accordance with that change.
Incorporation by Reference
Alaskan VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(b) and
United States RNAV 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
7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. These
amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO
7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11J 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.
The Rule
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by revoking Alaskan Very High
Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-414 and amending
RNAV Routes T-248 and T-250 in Alaska. These proposed actions are due
to the decommissioning of the NDB portion of the Gambell NDB/DME in
Alaska.
V-414: Prior to this final rule, V-414 extended between the
Gambell, AK, NDB/DME and the Kukuliak, AK, VOR/DME. This rule revokes
V-414 in its entirety.
T-248: Prior to this final rule, T-248 extended between the
Gambell, AK, NDB/DME and the Emmonak, AK, VOR/DME. This rule amends T-
248 by replacing the Gambell NDB/DME with the Gambell, AK, DME. As
amended, T-248 would extend between the Gambell DME and the Emmonak
VOR/DME.
T-250: Prior to this final rule, T-250 extended between the
Kukuliak, AK, VOR/DME and the Bethel, AK, Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). This rule
extends the route westward by adding the Gambell, AK, DME to the route
description. As amended, T-250 would extend between the Gambell DME and
the Bethel VORTAC.
[[Page 21693]]
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 revoking Alaskan VOR
Federal Airway V-414 and amending RNAV Routes T-248 and T-250 in Alaska
qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), 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 the
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
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(b) Alaskan VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-414 [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-248 Gambell, AK (GAM) to Emmonak, AK (ENM) [Amended]
Gambell, AK (GAM) DME (Lat. 63[deg]46'54.75'' N, long. 171[deg]44'12.40'' W)
QAYAQ, AK WP (Lat. 63[deg]52'14.00'' N, long. 169[deg]59'42.00'' W)
Emmonak, AK (ENM) VOR/DME (Lat. 62[deg]47'04.52'' N, long. 164[deg]29'15.12'' W)
* * * * *
T-250 Gambell, AK (GAM) to Bethel, AK (BET) [Amended]
Gambell, AK (GAM) DME (Lat. 63[deg]46'54.75'' N, long. 171[deg]44'12.40'' W)
Kukuliak, AK (ULL) VOR/DME (Lat. 63[deg]41'32.39'' N, long. 170[deg]28'11.65'' W)
QAYAQ, AK WP (Lat. 63[deg]52'14.00'' N, long. 169[deg]59'42.00'' W)
BANAT, AK WP (Lat. 62[deg]12'48.58'' N, long. 165[deg]40'00.61'' W)
Bethel, AK (BET) VORTAC (Lat. 60[deg]47'05.41'' N, long. 161[deg]49'27.59'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-09019 Filed 5-20-25; 8:45 am]
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