[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9445-9446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03875]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-2049; Airspace Docket No. 25-ANM-150]
RIN 2120-AA66
Establishment of Helena Very High Frequency Omnidirectional
Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) as a Domestic Low Altitude
Reporting Point in the State of Montana
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action establishes the Helena (HLN), MT, Very High
Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) as a
Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point in the state of Montana.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, May 14, 2026. 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
[[Page 9446]]
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 www.federalregister.gov.
FAA Order JO 7400.11K, 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 Services (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-2025-2049 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 35992; July 31, 2025), proposing to establish
the Helena (HLN), MT, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) as a Domestic Low Altitude Reporting
Point in the state of Montana. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.
Incorporation by Reference
Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points are published in paragraph
7001 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 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15,
2025. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA
Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, 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 establishing Helena VORTAC as
a Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point in the state of Montana. The
reporting point will be located at ``lat. 46[deg]36'24.557 '' N, long.
111[deg]57'12.511'' W.''
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 establishing the Helena
(HLN) MT, VORTAC as a Domestic Low Altitude Reporting point 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); and paragraph B-2.5(k), 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. 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
7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 4,
2025, and effective September 15, 2025, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 7001 Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points.
* * * * *
Helena, MT
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2026.
Alex W. Nelson,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2026-03875 Filed 2-25-26; 8:45 am]
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