[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65592-65593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20627]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0173; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-59]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-223;
Cape Newenham, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route
T-223 in the vicinity of Cape Newenham, AK, in support of a large and
comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.
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 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: Steven Roff, 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 expands the availability of RNAV in Alaska and improves
the efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System
by lessening the dependency on ground-based navigation.
History
The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2022-0173 in the
Federal Register (87 FR 14190; March 14, 2022), proposing to amend RNAV
route T-223 in the vicinity of Cape Newenham, AK, in support of a large
and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of
Alaska. Interested parties were invited
[[Page 65593]]
to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting comments on the
proposal. No comments were received.
Incorporation by Reference
United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph
6011 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 RNAV route T-223 in
the vicinity of Cape Newenham, AK, in support of a large and
comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.
The amendment is described below.
T-223: T-223 extends between the Cape Newenham, AK (EHM),
Nondirectional Radio Beacon/Distance Measuring Equipment (NDB/DME) and
the Anchorage, AK (TED), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/
Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aids. This action
amends the route by replacing the Cape Newenham, AK (EHM), NDB/DME with
the new ZIKNI, AK, waypoint (WP). Additionally, the NONDA, AK, Fix is
removed from the route description as it is not required to retain the
route's structure; however, it will remain in the National Airspace
System Resource database and continue to be depicted on the Instrument
Flight Rules (IFR) En Route charts.
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
Department of Transportation (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 airspace action of amending RNAV
route T-223 in the vicinity of Cape Newenham, AK, 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; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting
Points), and paragraph 5-6.5i, 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. 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. Accordingly, 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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-223 ZIKNI, AK to Anchorage, AK (TED) [Amended]
ZIKNI, AK WP (Lat. 58[deg]39'21.68'' N, long. 162[deg]04'13.87'' W)
Dillingham, AK (DLG) VOR/DME (Lat. 58[deg]59'39.24'' N, long. 158[deg]33'07.99'' W)
Anchorage, AK (TED) VOR/DME (Lat. 61[deg]10'04.32'' N, long. 149[deg]57'36.51'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 19, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-20627 Filed 9-22-23; 8:45 am]
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