2022-14199. Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-44 and Revocation of VOR Federal Airway V-446 in the Vicinity of Samsville, IL

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-44 and revokes VOR Federal airway V-446. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Samsville, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Samsville VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES:

Effective date 0901 UTC, September 8, 2022. 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:

FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/​air_​traffic/​publications/​. For further information, you can contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: [phone].

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 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-2021-0971 in the Federal Register (86 FR 62962; November 15, 2021), amending VOR Federal airway V-44 and revoking VOR Federal airway V-446 in the vicinity of Samsville, IL. The proposed actions were due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Samsville, IL, VOR/DME NAVAID. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were received.

VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The ATS routes listed in this document will be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR Federal airway V-44 and remove VOR Federal airway V-446 due to the planned decommissioning of the Samsville, IL, VOR. The VOR Federal airway actions are described below.

V-44: V-44 extends between the Columbia, MO, VOR/DME and the Samsville, IL, VOR/DME; and between the Falmouth, KY, VOR/DME and the Albany, NY, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The airspace within restricted areas R-4001B, R-5002A, R-5002B, and R-5002E are excluded when active; the airspace within V-139 and V-308 airways are excluded; and the airspace below 2,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) outside the United States is excluded. The airway segment between the Centralia, IL, VORTAC and the Samsville, IL, VOR/DME is removed. Additionally, the exclusions regarding the airspace within R-4001B, R-5002A, R-5002B, and R-5002E when active, and the airspace within the V-139 and V-308 airways are removed as well. The unaffected portions of the existing airway remain as charted.

V-446: V-446 extends between the Troy, IL, VORTAC and the Samsville, IL, VOR/DME. The airway is removed in its entirety.

All NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway description below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.

FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 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.

Environmental Review

The FAA has determined that this action of amending VOR Federal airway V-44 and revoking VOR Federal airway V-446, due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Samsville, IL, 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). 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

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.

§ 71.1

[Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-44 [Amended]

From Columbia, MO; INT Columbia 131° and Foristell, MO, 262° radials; Foristell; to Centralia, IL. From Falmouth, KY; York, KY; Parkersburg, WV; Morgantown, WV; Martinsburg, WV; INT Martinsburg 094° and Baltimore, MD, 300° radials; Baltimore; INT Baltimore 122° and Sea Isle, NJ, 267° radials; Sea Isle; INT Sea Isle 040° and Deer Park, NY, 209° radials; Deer Park; INT Deer Park 041° and Bridgeport, CT, 133° radials; Bridgeport; INT Bridgeport 324° and Pawling, NY, 160° radials; Pawling; INT Pawling 342° and Albany, NY, 181° radials; to Albany. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded.

* * * * *

V-446 [Removed]

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2022.

Scott M. Rosenbloom,

Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.