[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 132 (Monday, July 14, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31141-31143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13103]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2679; Airspace Docket No. 24-AAL-110]
RIN 2120-AA66
Revocation of Colored Federal Airway Green 6 (G-6) and Alaskan
Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal Airways V-459 and V-
496 in Alaska
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action revokes Colored Federal Airway Green 6 (G-6) and
Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways
V-459 and V-496 in Alaska. The identifier V-459 is also used for a VOR
Federal Airway in California. This action revokes the Alaskan V-459,
not
[[Page 31142]]
the V-459 in California. The FAA is taking this action due to the
pending decommissioning of the St. Marys, AK, Nondirectional Radio
Beacon (NDB) and the Aniak, AK, NDB.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, October 2, 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. An electronic
copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office of the
Federal Register's website at www.federalregister.gov.
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, Policy Directorate, 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 an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2024-2679 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 8510; January 30, 2025), proposing to revoke
Colored Federal Airway G-6 and Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-459 and V-
496 in Alaska. Interested parties were invited to participate in this
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the
FAA. One comment was received regarding the decommissioning of the St.
Marys and Aniak NDBs. The commenter stated that these NDBs and the
airways they support are a cheap and reliable form of navigation and
raises the concern that removing NDBs creates a danger to affected
communities in the event of Global Positioning System (GPS) outages.
The FAA recognizes the need to maintain a reliable source of
navigation to aviation-dependent Alaskan villages and is developing a
resiliency plan to support navigation in the event of GPS
unreliability. The concerns raised by the comment received are
recognized as legitimate, but are not applicable to this rulemaking
action as non-GPS mitigations are in place in the area and at the
affected airports.
The planned decommissioning of Aniak (PANI) and St. Mary's (PASM)
NDBs caused the revocation of G-6, V-459, and V-496; however, there are
adequate remaining navigational aid (NAVAID)-based airways in the area
(V-480, V-350, and V-496) for use by aircraft not equipped with GPS.
Non-GPS instrument approach procedures also are in place at PASM and
PANI and will remain after the decommissioning of the St. Marys and
Aniak NDBs. Specifically, decommissioning the NDBs will cause
amendments to the PASM localizer (LOC) Runway 17 and the PANI
instrument landing system (ILS) or LOC Runway 11 procedures, but not
cancellation. Therefore, the decommissioning of St. Marys and Aniak
NDBs and the revocation of G-6, V-459, and V-496 will have no impact to
non-GPS flights in the area.
Incorporation by Reference
Colored Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6009 and Alaskan
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
7400.11J, 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, which lists Class A, B, C, D, and E
airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points, is
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.
The Rule
The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by revoking Colored Federal
Airway Green (G-6) and Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-459 and V-496 in
Alaska. The FAA is proposing these actions due to the pending
decommissioning of the St. Marys, AK, NDB and the Aniak, AK, NDB.
G-6: Prior to this rule, G-6 extended between the St. Marys, AK,
NDB and the Aniak, AK, NDB. Due to the pending decommissioning of both
NDBs, the FAA is revoking G-6 in its entirety.
V-459: Prior to this rule, V-459 in Alaska extended between the
Emmonak, AK, VOR/distance measuring equipment (DME) and the St. Marys,
AK, NDB. Due to the pending decommissioning of the St. Marys NDB, the
FAA is revoking the Alaskan V-459 in its entirety. This action does not
propose any changes to the V-459 in California.
V-496: Prior to this rule, V-496 extended between the Hooper Bay,
AK, VOR/DME and the St. Marys, AK, NDB. Due to the pending
decommissioning of the St. Marys NDB, the FAA is revoking V-496 in its
entirety.
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 Colored Federal
Airway G-6 and Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-459 and V-496 in Alaska
qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) and in
[[Page 31143]]
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies
and Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5.a 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.
Lists 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 6009(a). Green Federal Airways.
* * * * *
G-6 [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6010(b). Alaskan VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-459 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-496 [Removed]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-13103 Filed 7-11-25; 8:45 am]
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