[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 10, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43550-43552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17373]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0371; Airspace Docket No. 25-ANM-128]
RIN 2120-AA66
Revocation of Jet Route J-534 and Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-349, Amendment of VOR
Federal Airways V-23 and V-165, and Establishment of Canadian Area
Navigation (RNAV) Route T-645 in Northwestern United States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action revokes Jet Route J-534 and Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-349, amends VOR Federal
Airways V-23 and V-165, and establishes Canadian Area Navigation (RNAV)
Route T-645 in the Northwestern United States. The FAA is taking this
action due to the pending decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
Whatcom (HUH), WA, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational
aid (NAVAID). The VOR portion of the Whatcom VORTAC is being
decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network
(MON) program. There are two airways that use the naming convention of
V-23. One is located in the state of Hawaii, and the other is located
in the state of California. This action affects the V-23 in the state
of California and does not make any changes to the V-23 in the state of
Hawaii.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, November 27, 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, 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.
[[Page 43551]]
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 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-2025-0371 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 11392; March 6, 2025), proposing to revoke Jet
Route J-534 and VOR Federal Airway V-349, amend VOR Federal Airways V-
23 and V-165, and establish Canadian RNAV Route T-645 in the
Northwestern United States. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.
Differences From the NPRM
The airway description listed in the NPRM included the waypoints
(WP) ITGIL and VOGAD. These route points are currently used in Canadian
airspace, and NAV Canada intended to relocate these points to the
border of the United States and Canada for inclusion in the route
description of Canadian RNAV Route T-645. After the publication of the
NPRM, NAV Canada advised the FAA that it would be unable to accommodate
the relocation of the WPs in time to meet the FAA's publication
timelines. Therefore, this rule renames the WP ITGIL listed in the NPRM
to PUDGE and renames the WP VOGAD listed in the NPRM to ROSSS. This
rule only changes the name of the WPs; their locations remain the same
as published in the NPRM. Because this is only an administrative change
that does not alter airspace boundaries or impose additional regulatory
requirements, the FAA finds that good cause exists for not re-
circulating the NPRM for public notice and comment.
Incorporation by Reference
Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004, VOR Federal Airways are
published in paragraph 6010, and Canadian Navigation Routes are
published in paragraph 6013, 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
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by revoking Jet Route J-534 and
VOR Federal Airway V-349, amending VOR Federal Airways V-23 and V-165,
and establishing Canadian RNAV Route T-645 in the Northwestern United
States. There are two airways that use the naming convention of V-23;
one is in Hawaii, and the other is in California. This action only
affects the V-23 in the state of California and does not make any
changes to the V-23 in the state of Hawaii. The FAA is taking these
actions due to the pending decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
Whatcom (HUH), WA, VORTAC. The VOR portion of the Whatcom VORTAC is
being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR MON program.
J-534: Prior to this final rule, J-534 extended between the
intersection of the Seattle, WA, VORTAC 033[deg] and the Whatcom, WA,
VORTAC, 090[deg] radials and the Williams Lake, BC, Canada, VORTAC,
excluding the airspace within Canada. The FAA is revoking J-534 in its
entirety.
V-349: Prior to this final rule, V-349 extended between the
Whatcom, WA, VORTAC and Williams Lake, BC, Canada, VORTAC, excluding
the airspace within Canada. The FAA is revoking V-349 in its entirety.
V-23: Prior to this final rule, V-23 in California, extended
between the Mission Bay, CA, VORTAC and the United States and Canadian
border via the Whatcom, WA, VORTAC 290[deg] radial. The FAA is amending
V-23 by revoking the segment that extends between the Paine, WA, VOR/
DME and the Whatcom VORTAC. As amended, V-23 in California extends
between the Mission Bay VORTAC and the Paine VOR/DME.
V-165: Prior to this final rule, V-165 extended between the Mission
Bay, CA, VORTAC and the Whatcom, WA, VORTAC. The FAA is amending V-165
by revoking the segment that extends between the Penn Cove, WA, VOR/DME
and the Whatcom VORTAC. As amended, V-165 extends between the Mission
Bay VORTAC and the Penn Cove VOR/DME.
T-645: T-645 is being established as a new RNAV route to serve as
an additional mitigation to the aforementioned airspace actions. T-645
extends between the EPSOP, WA, WP and the IKLIT, WA, WP.
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 revoking Jet Route J-534
and VOR Federal Airway V-349, amending VOR Federal Airways V-23 and V-
165, and establishing Canadian RNAV Route T-645 in Northwestern United
States qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) and in accordance
with FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National Environmental Policy Act
Implementing Procedures, paragraph B-2.5(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); paragraph B-2.5(i), which categorically excludes from further
environmental review the establishment of new or revised air traffic
control procedures conducted at 3,000 feet or more above ground level
(AGL); procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not cause
traffic to be routinely routed over noise sensitive areas;
modifications to currently approved procedures conducted below 3,000
feet AGL that do not significantly increase noise over noise sensitive
areas; and increases in minimum altitudes and landing minima; and
paragraph B-2.5(k), which
[[Page 43552]]
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'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 statement.
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 2004 Jet Routes.
* * * * *
J-534 [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-349 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-23 [Amended]
From Mission Bay, CA; Oceanside, CA; 24 miles, six miles wide,
Seal Beach, CA; six miles wide, INT Seal Beach 287[deg] and Los
Angeles, 138[deg] radials; Los Angeles; Gorman, CA; Shafter, CA; to
INT Shafter 338[deg] and Panoche 096[deg] radials. From INT Panoche
035[deg] and Linden 141[deg] radials; Linden, CA; Sacramento, CA;
INT Sacramento 346[deg] and Red Bluff, CA, 158[deg] radials; Red
Bluff; 58 miles, 95 MSL, Fort Jones, CA; Rogue Valley, OR; Eugene,
OR; Battle Ground, WA; INT Battle Ground 350[deg] and Seattle, WA,
197[deg] radials; 21 miles, 45 MSL, Seattle; Paine, WA.
* * * * *
V-165 [Amended]
From Mission Bay, CA; INT Mission Bay 270[deg] and Oceanside,
CA, 177[deg] radials; Oceanside; 24 miles, 6 miles wide, Seal Beach,
CA; 6 miles wide, INT Seal Beach 287[deg] and Los Angeles, CA,
138[deg] radials; Los Angeles; INT Los Angeles 357[deg] and Lake
Hughes, CA, 154[deg] radials; Lake Hughes; INT Lake Hughes 344[deg]
and Shafter, CA, 137[deg] radials; Shafter; Tule, CA; INT Tule
339[deg] and Avenal, CA, 042[deg] radials. From INT Squaw Valley, CA
133[deg] and Mustang, NV, 183[deg] radials; 72 miles, 50 miles, 131
MSL, Mustang, NV; 40 miles, 12 AGL, 7 miles, 115 MSL, 54 miles, 135
MSL, 81 miles, 12 AGL, Lakeview, OR; 5 miles, 72 miles, 90 MSL,
Deschutes, OR; 16 miles, 19 miles, 95 MSL, 24 miles, 75 MSL, 12
miles, 65 MSL, Newberg, OR; 32 miles, 45 MSL, INT Newberg 355[deg]
and Olympia, WA, 195[deg] radials; Olympia; Penn Cove, WA.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6013 Canadian Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-645 EPSOP, WA to IKLIT, WA [New]
EPSOP, WA WP (Lat. 48[deg]49'55.86'' N, long. 123[deg]00'36.81'' W)
PUDGE, WA WP (Lat. 48[deg]55'50.99'' N, long. 122[deg]25'36.90'' W)
ROSSS, WA WP (Lat. 48[deg]57'21.70'' N, long. 122[deg]16'28.81'' W)
IKLIT, WA WP (Lat. 49[deg]00'08.80'' N, long. 122[deg]12'49.06'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 5, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-17373 Filed 9-9-25; 8:45 am]
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