2020-18862. Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 in the Vicinity of Lone Rock, WI

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 in the vicinity of Lone Rock, WI. These amendments are due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Lone Rock, WI, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID) which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected airways. The Lone Rock, WI, VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES:

Effective date 0901 UTC, November 5, 2020. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under Title 1 Code of Federal Regulations part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES:

FAA Order 7400.11D, 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]. The Order is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of FAA Order 7400.11D at NARA, email: [e-mail] or go to https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

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 would modify 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 (NPRM) for Docket No. FAA-2020-0244 in the Federal Register (85 FR 16580; March 24, 2020), amending VOR Federal airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 in the vicinity of Lone Rock, WI, due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Lone Rock, WI, VOR/DME. 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 7400.11D dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airways listed in this document will be subsequently published in the Order.

The Rule

The FAA is amending Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend VOR Federal airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Lone Rock, WI, VOR/DME. The VOR Federal airway amendments are described below.

V-24: V-24 extends between the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME and the Northbrook, IL, VOR/DME; and between the Peotone, IL, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Brickyard, IN, VORTAC. The airway segment between the Rochester, MN, VOR/DME and the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME is removed. The unaffected portions of the existing airway remain as charted.

V-97: V-97 extends between the Dolphin, FL, VORTAC and the intersection of the Chicago Heights, IL, VORTAC 358° and DuPage, IL, 101° VOR/DME radials (NILES fix); and between the intersection of the DuPage, IL, VOR/DME 347° and Janesville, WI, VOR/DME 112° radials (KRENA fix) and the Gopher, MN, VORTAC. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded. The airway segment between the intersection of the DuPage, IL, VOR/DME 347° and Janesville, WI, VOR/DME 112° radials (KRENA fix) and the Nodine, MN, VORTAC is removed. The unaffected portions of the existing airway remain as charted.

V-171: V-171 extends between the Lexington, KY, VOR/DME and the Roseau, MN, VOR/DME. The airway segment between the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME and the Nodine, MN, VORTAC is removed. The unaffected portions of the existing airway remain as charted.

All radials contained in the VOR Federal airway descriptions below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.

FAA Order 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 airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Lone Rock, WI, VOR/DME NAVAID qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act 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)

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(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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-24 [Amended]

From Aberdeen, SD; Watertown, SD; Redwood Falls, MN; to Rochester, MN. From Janesville, WI; INT Janesville 112° and Northbrook, IL, 291° radials; to Northbrook. From Peotone, IL; INT Peotone 152° and Brickyard, IN, 312° radials; to Brickyard.

* * * * *

V-97 [Amended]

From Dolphin, FL; La Belle, FL; St. Petersburg, FL; Seminole, FL; Pecan, GA; Atlanta, GA; INT Atlanta 001° and Volunteer, TN, 197° radials; Volunteer; London, KY; Lexington, KY; Cincinnati, KY; Shelbyville, IN; INT Shelbyville 313° and Boiler, IN, 136° radials; Boiler; Chicago Heights, IL; to INT Chicago Heights 358° and DuPage, IL, 101° radials. From Nodine, MN; to Gopher, MN. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded.

* * * * *

V-171 [Amended]

From Lexington, KY; INT Lexington 251° and Louisville, KY, 114° radials; Louisville; Terre Haute, IN; Danville, IL; Peotone, IL; INT Peotone 281° and Joliet, IL, 173° radials; Joliet; to Rockford, IL. From Nodine, MN; INT Nodine 298° and Farmington, MN, 124° radials; Farmington; Darwin, MN; Alexandria, MN; INT Alexandria 321° and Grand Forks, ND, 152° radials; Grand Forks; to Roseau, MN.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 24, 2020.

Scott M. Rosenbloom,

Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.