E7-11046. Proposed Revision of Jet Routes J-29 and J-101; South Central United States

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to revise Jet Routes J-29 and J-101 over the South Central United States in support of the Houston Area Air Traffic System Project. These actions would allow for more effective utilization of airspace and would enhance the management of aircraft operations over the Houston terminal area.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before July 23, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590; telephone: [phone]. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2007-28134 and Airspace Docket No. 07-ASW-1, at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Rohring, Airspace and Rules Group, Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.

Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. FAA-2007-28134 and Airspace Docket No. 07-ASW-1) and be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to FAA Docket No. FAA-2007-28134 and Airspace Docket No. 07-ASW-1.” The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.

All communications received on or before the specified closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available for examination in the public docket both before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM's

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov,, or the Federal Register's web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/​fr/​index.html.

You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, Central Service Center, 2601 Meacham Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76137-4298.

Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, [phone], for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application procedure.

History

As part of the Houston Area Air Traffic System Project, a review of aircraft operations has identified a need to revise the jet route structure over the South Central United States by realigning jet airways J-29 and J-101. The FAA believes this action would allow for more effective utilization of airspace and would enhance the management of aircraft operations over the Houston terminal area. Specifically, the action would segregate departure traffic and facilitate the development of additional departure procedures from the greater Houston terminal area, thereby increasing departure capacity.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to revise J-29 and J-101 over the South Central United States. Specifically, this action proposes to revise J-29 between the Humble, TX, VORTAC and the El Dorado, AR, VORTAC, and revise J-101 between the Lufkin, TX, VORTAC and Little Rock, AR, VORTAC. This action would allow for more effective utilization of airspace and would enhance the management of aircraft operations over the Houston terminal area.

Jet routes are published in paragraph 2004 of FAA Order 7400.9P, dated September 1, 2006 and effective September 15, 2006, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The jet routes listed in this document would be published subsequently in the Order.

The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this proposed 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 proposed 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.

Environmental Review

This proposal will be subject to the appropriate environmental analysis in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

• Airspace
• Incorporation by reference
• Navigation (air)

The Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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 7400.9P, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15, 2006, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.

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J-29 [Revised]

From the INT of the United States/Mexican Border and the Corpus Christi, TX, 229° radial via Corpus Christi; Palacios, TX; Humble, TX; El Dorado, AR; Memphis, TN; Pocket City, IN; INT Pocket City 051° and Rosewood, OH, 230° radials; Rosewood; DRYER, OH; Jamestown, NY; Syracuse, NY; Plattsburgh, NY; Bangor, ME; to Halifax, Canada; excluding the portions within Mexico and Canada.

* * * * *

J-101 [Revised]

From Humble, TX, Lufkin, TX; Little Rock, AR; St. Louis, MO; Spinner, IL; Pontiac, IL; Joliet, IL; Northbrook, IL; Badger, WI; Green Bay, WI; to Sault Ste Marie, MI.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 29, 2007.

Paul Gallant,

Acting Manager, Airspace and Rules Group.