Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 134 (Wednesday, July 16, 2025)

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 16, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31853-31854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13296]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 134 / Wednesday, July 16, 2025 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 31853]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2738; Airspace Docket No. 24-AAL-99]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range 
Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional 
Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-444 and V-504. The FAA is taking this 
action due to the pending decommissioning of the Evansville, AK, 
Nondirectional Radio Beacon (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.
    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-2024-2738 in the 
Federal Register (89 FR 106375; December 30, 2024), proposing to amend 
Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two comments 
were received with one being in favor of the action and the other being 
outside the scope of this airspace action.

Incorporation by Reference

    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 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

    The FAA is amending to 14 CFR part 71 by modifying Alaskan VOR 
Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska. The FAA is taking these 
actions due to the pending decommissioning of the Evansville, AK, NDB.
    V-444: Prior to this rule, V-444 in Alaska extended between the 
Barrow, AK, VOR/DME and the intersection of the Northway, AK, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 120[deg] (M), 138[deg] (T), and the 
Gulkana, AK, VOR/DME 062[deg] (M), 079[deg] (T) radials. As amended, V-
444 extends between the Bettles, AK, VOR/DME and the intersection of 
the Northway, AK, VORTAC 120[deg] (M), 138[deg] (T), and the Gulkana, 
AK, VOR/DME 062[deg] (M), 079[deg] (T) radials.
    V-504: Prior to this rule, V-504 extended between the Nenana, AK, 
VORTAC and the Deadhorse, AK, VOR/DME. As amended, V-504 extends 
between the Neana VORTAC and the Bettles, AK, VOR/DME.

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 Alaskan VOR 
Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, 
et seq.) paragraph 5-6.5.a of FAA's NEPA implementation policy and 
procedures which categorically

[[Page 31854]]

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 the FAA's NEPA implementation policy and procedures 
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 6010(b) Alaskan VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-444 [Amended]

    From Bettles, AK; Fairbanks, AK; Big Delta, AK; Northway, AK; 
intersection of the Northway 138[deg] and Gulkana 079[deg] radials.
* * * * *

V-504 [Amended]

    From Nenana, AK; to Bettles, AK.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-13296 Filed 7-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P