[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31603-31604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08672]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-2247; Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-4]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-132 and Revocation of VOR
Federal Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350 in the Vicinity of Chanute, KS
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range
(VOR) Federal Airway V-132 and revokes VOR Federal Airways V-131, V-
307, and V-350. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Chanute, KS (CNU), VOR/
Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The
Chanute VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum
Operational Network (MON) program.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, July 11, 2024. 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: 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 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 a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA-2023-2247 in the Federal Register (88 FR 78265; November 15, 2023),
proposing to amend VOR Federal Airway V-132 and revoke VOR Federal
Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350 due to the planned decommissioning of
the VOR portion of the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME NAVAID. Interested parties
were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting
written comments on the proposal. No comments were received.
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.
[[Page 31604]]
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 Airway V-
132 and revoking VOR Federal Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350 due to the
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME
NAVAID. The airway actions are described below.
V-131: Prior to this final rule, V-131 extended between the
Okmulgee, OK, VOR/DME and the Topeka, KS, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation
(VORTAC). The airway segment between the Tulsa, OK, VORTAC and the
Topeka VORTAC is removed due to the planned decommissioning of the
Chanute VOR. Additionally, the airway segment between the Okmulgee VOR/
DME and the Tulsa VORTAC is also removed since that airway segment
overlaps V-161, which will remain charted and provide navigational
guidance between the two NAVAIDs. As a result, the airway is removed in
its entirety.
V-132: Prior to this final rule, V-132 extended between the
Medicine Bow, WY, VOR/DME and the intersection of the Forney, MO, VOR
086[deg] and Vichy, MO, VOR/DME 156[deg] radials (LENOX Fix), excluding
that portion of the airway within restricted areas R-4501A, R-4501B, R-
4501C, and R-4501D during their time of activation. The airway segment
between the Hutchinson, KS, VOR/DME and the Springfield, MO, VORTAC is
removed. Additionally, that portion of the airway within restricted
areas R-4501E, R-4501F, and R-4501H is also excluded during the
restricted areas times of activation since those restricted areas also
fall within 4 nautical miles of the airway. As amended, the airway is
changed to now extend between the Medicine Bow VOR/DME and the
Hutchinson VOR/DME, and between the Springfield VORTAC and the
intersection of the Forney VOR 086[deg] and Vichy VOR/DME 156[deg]
radials (LENOX Fix), excluding the portion within all 7 restricted
areas of the R-4501 restricted area complex.
V-307: Prior to this final rule, V-307 extended between the
Chanute, KS, VOR/DME and the Emporia, KS, VORTAC. The airway is removed
in its entirety.
V-350: Prior to this final rule, V-350 extended between the
Wichita, KS, VORTAC and the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME. The airway is removed
in its entirety.
The NAVAID radials listed in the V-132 description in the
regulatory text of this final rule are unchanged and 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
Airway V-132 and revoking VOR Federal Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350,
due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Chanute,
KS, VOR/DME 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;
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-131 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-132 [Amended]
From Medicine Bow, WY; INT Medicine Bow 106[deg] and Cheyenne,
WY, 330[deg] radials; Cheyenne; Akron, CO; 17 miles, 49 miles, 59
MSL, Goodland, KS; 50 miles, 97 miles, 65 MSL, to Hutchinson, KS.
From Springfield, MO; INT Springfield 058[deg] and Forney, MO,
266[deg] radials; Forney; to INT Forney 086[deg] and Vichy, MO,
156[deg] radials, excluding that portion within R-4501A, R-4501B, R-
4501C, R-4501D, R-4501E, R-4501F, and R-4501H during their time of
activation.
* * * * *
V-307 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-350 [Removed]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 18, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-08672 Filed 4-24-24; 8:45 am]
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