2012-14412. Amendment of Air Traffic Service Routes; Southwestern United States

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action modifies Jet Route J-2, and VOR Federal airways V-16, V-66 and V-202 in southern Arizona and New Mexico due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Cochise, AZ, VHF Omnidirectional Range Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) which currently is used to define segments of the routes.

DATES:

Effective date 0901 UTC, July 26, 2012. 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 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Gallant, Airspace, Regulations and ATC Procedures Group, Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

On April 23, 2012, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish two new RNAV routes in the southwestern United States (78 FR 24156). An NPRM correction published in the Federal Register of May 23, 2012 (77 FR 30437) corrected the description of VOR Federal airway V-16.

Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. One comment was received which expressed support for the proposal.

The Rule

The FAA is amending Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify the descriptions of Jet Route J-2, and VOR Federal airways V-16, V-66 and V-202 in southern Arizona and New Mexico. The FAA is taking this action due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Cochise, AZ, VORTAC, which is used in the descriptions of the routes. Specifically, the portion of J-2 that extends from Gila Bend, AZ; to Cochise, AZ; to El Paso, TX is realigned to proceed from Gila Bend to Tucson, AZ, and then to El Paso, TX (with the remainder of the route is unchanged). The portion of V-16 that currently extends from Tucson, AZ; to Cochise, AZ; to Columbus, NM, is realigned to proceed from Tucson, AZ; to San Simon, AZ; then to Columbus, NM (remainder of route unchanged). V-66 is modified by removing language that excludes altitudes above 13,000 feet MSL in one segment of the route no longer required by air traffic control. V-202 currently extends from Tucson, AZ; to Cochise, AZ; to San Simon, AZ; to Silver City, NM; to Truth or Consequences, NM. The western portion of V-202 that extends between Tucson-Cochise-San Simon is deleted. The modified V-202 begins at San Simon, AZ; to Silver City, NM; to Truth or Consequences, NM.

Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004, and Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010, of FAA Order 7400.9V dated August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Jet Routes and VOR Federal airways listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

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. Therefore, this regulation: (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 will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

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 Air Traffic Service routes to maintain the continuity of navigation guidance in the southwestern United States.

Environmental Review

The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, “Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures,” paragraph 311a. This airspace action is not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

• Airspace
• Incorporation by reference
• Navigation (air)

Adoption of 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

1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

§ 71.1

[Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9V, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 2011, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004 Jet routes.

J-2 [Amended]

From Mission Bay, CA, via Imperial, CA; Bard, AZ; INT of the Bard 089° and Gila Bend, AZ, 261° radials; Gila Bend; Tucson, AZ; El Paso, TX; Fort Stockton, TX; Junction, TX; San Antonio, TX; Humble, TX; Lake Charles, LA; Baton Rouge, LA; Semmes, AL; Crestview, FL; INT of the Crestview 091° and the Seminole, FL, 290° radials; Seminole to Taylor, FL.

Paragraph 6010 Domestic VOR federal airways.

V-16 [Amended]

From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; Palm Springs, CA; Blythe, CA; Buckeye, AZ; Phoenix, AZ; INT Phoenix 155° and Stanfield, AZ, 105° radials; Tucson, AZ; San Simon, AZ; INT San Simon 119° and Columbus, NM, 277° radials; Columbus; El Paso, TX; Salt Flat, TX; Wink, TX; INT Wink 066° and Big Spring, TX, 260° radials; Big Spring; Abilene, TX; Bowie, TX; Bonham, TX; Paris, TX; Texarkana, AR; Pine Bluff, AR; Marvell, AR; Holly Springs, MS; Jacks Creek, TN; Shelbyville, TN; Hinch Mountain, TN; Volunteer, TN; Holston Mountain, TN; Pulaski, VA; Roanoke, VA; Lynchburg, VA; Flat Rock, VA; Richmond, VA; INT Richmond 039° and Patuxent, MD, 228° radials; Patuxent; Smyrna, DE; Cedar Lake, NJ; Coyle, NJ; INT Coyle 036° and Kennedy, NY, 209° radials; Kennedy; INT Kennedy 040° and Calverton, NY 261° radials; Calverton; Norwich, CT; Boston, MA. The airspace within Mexico and the airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded. The airspace within Restricted Areas R-5002A, R-5002C, and R-5002D is excluded during their times of use. The airspace within Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4006 is excluded.

V-66 [Amended]

From Mission Bay, CA; Imperial, CA; 13 miles, 24 miles, 25 MSL; Bard, AZ; 12 miles, 35 MSL; INT Bard 089° and Gila Bend, AZ, 261º radials; 46 miles, 35 MSL; Gila Bend; Tucson, AZ, 7 miles wide (3 miles south and 4 miles north of centerline); Douglas, AZ; INT Douglas 064° and Columbus, NM, 277° radials; Columbus; El Paso, TX; 6 miles wide; INT El Paso 109° and Hudspeth, TX, 287° radials; 6 miles wide; Hudspeth; Pecos, TX; Midland, TX; INT Midland 083° and Abilene, TX, 252° radials; Abilene; to Millsap, TX. From Crimson, AL, Brookwood, AL; LaGrange, GA; INT LaGrange 120° and Columbus, GA, 068° radials; INT Columbus 068° and Athens, GA, 195° radials; Athens; Greenwood, SC; Sandhills, NC; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Franklin, VA.

V-202 [Amended]

From San Simon, AZ; Silver City, NM; to Truth or Consequences, NM.

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2012.

Colby Abbott,

Acting Manager, Airspace, Regulations and ATC Procedures Group.