[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65315-65317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20446]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0881; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-34]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-469 and V-501, and Revocation
of VOR Federal Airway V-474 in the Vicinity of St. Thomas, PA
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range
(VOR) Federal airways V-469 and V-501, and revokes V-474. The FAA is
taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR
portion of the St. Thomas, PA (THS), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation
(VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The St. Thomas VOR is being
decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network
(MON) program.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, November 30, 2023. The Director of the
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual
[[Page 65316]]
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 7400.11H, 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, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration,
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 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 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-2023-0881 in the Federal Register (88 FR 21142; April 10, 2023),
proposing to amend VOR Federal airways V-469 and V-501, and revoke VOR
Federal airway V-474 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR
portion of the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC NAVAID. 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
Subsequent to the NPRM, the FAA determined that the proposed VOR
Federal airway V-501 amendment to replace the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC
airway point with the VINSE Fix did not accurately overlay the existing
airway between the Hagerstown, MD, VOR and the Philipsburg, PA, VORTAC
airway points. To overcome the unintended difference to the V-501
routing, the FAA is establishing the GGRIF Fix located approximately 80
feet south of the St. Thomas VORTAC at the intersection of the
Harrisburg, PA, VORTAC 241[deg] True (T)/251[deg] Magnetic (M) and
Philipsburg, PA, VORTAC 178[deg](T)/188[deg](M) radials. Replacing the
St. Thomas VORTAC airway point in the V-501 description with the GGRIF
Fix instead of the proposed VINSE Fix will retain the existing airway
as it is currently charted.
This action amends the V-501 description by changing the VINSE Fix
proposed to replace the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC airway point in the NPRM
to the GGRIF Fix.
Incorporation by Reference
VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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
7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. FAA
Order JO 7400.11H is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this document. These amendments will be published in the
next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
FAA Order JO 7400.11H 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 amending VOR Federal airways
V-469 and V-501, and revoking V-474 due to the planned decommissioning
of the VOR portion of the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC. The airway actions
are described below.
V-469: Prior to this final rule, V-469 extended between the
Danville, VA, VORTAC and the Woodstown, NJ, VORTAC. The airway segment
between the Johnstown, PA, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME)
and the Harrisburg, PA, VORTAC is removed. As amended, the airway now
extends between the Danville VORTAC and the Johnstown VOR/DME and
between the Harrisburg VORTAC and the Woodstown VORTAC.
V-474: Prior to this final rule, V-474 extended between the St.
Thomas, PA, VORTAC and the Modena, PA, VORTAC. The airway is removed in
its entirety.
V-501: Prior to this final rule, V-501 extended between the
Martinsburg, WV, VORTAC and the Philipsburg, PA, VORTAC. The St.
Thomas, PA, VORTAC airway point is replaced by the GGRIF Fix being
established at the intersection of the Harrisburg, PA, VORTAC
241[deg](T)/251[deg](M) and Philipsburg, PA, VORTAC 178[deg](T)/
188[deg](M) radials. As amended, the airway is retained as charted and
continues to extend between the Martinsburg VORTAC and the Philipsburg
VORTAC.
The NAVAID radials listed in the airway descriptions in the
amendments to part 71 are stated in degrees True north.
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 VOR Federal
airways V-469 and V-501, and revoking VOR Federal airway V-474, due to
the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the St. Thomas, PA,
VORTAC NAVAID, qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing
regulations at 40 CFR part 1500, 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;
[[Page 65317]]
Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and paragraph 5-
6.5k, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact
review 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
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11,
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-469 [Amended]
From Danville, VA; Lynchburg, VA; INT Lynchburg 347[deg] and
Elkins, WV, 142[deg] radials; Elkins; Morgantown, WV; INT Morgantown
010[deg] and Johnstown, PA, 260[deg] radials; to Johnstown. From
Harrisburg, PA; Dupont, DE; to Woodstown, NJ.
* * * * *
V-474 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-501 [Amended]
From Martinsburg, WV; Hagerstown, MD; INT Harrisburg, PA,
241[deg] and Philipsburg, PA, 178[deg] radials; to Philipsburg.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-20446 Filed 9-21-23; 8:45 am]
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