03-13036. Proposed Revision of Federal Airways V-13 and V-407; Harlingen, TX

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to revise Federal Airway 13 (V-13) northeast of the McAllen, TX, Very High Frequency Omni-directional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) by realigning the airway to intersect with V-163 south of the Corpus Christi, TX, Very High Frequency Omni-directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) rather than proceeding to the Harlingen, TX, VOR/DME. Additionally, this action proposes to revise the point of origin of V-407 from the Harlingen VOR/DME to the Brownsville, TX, VORTAC. Also, this action proposes to revise V-407 north of the Harlingen VOR/DME to reflect a change of the radial of the airway. The FAA is proposing this action due to the relocation of the Harlingen VOR/DME and to enhance the management of aircraft operations over the Harlingen, TX, area.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before July 11, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify docket numbers FAA-2003-15061/Airspace Docket No. 03-ASW-1, at the beginning of your comments.

You may also submit comments on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone [phone]) is on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at the above address.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Blvd; Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Rohring, Airspace and Rules Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, 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 and be submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Docket No. FAA 2003-15061/Airspace Docket No. 03-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 notice 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 Superintendent of Document's Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/​nara.

Additionally, any person may obtain a copy of this notice by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling [phone]. Communications must identify both docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should call 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.

Background

The FAA is relocating the Harlingen VOR/DME approximately 8 nautical miles to the southeast of its current location. As a part of that effort, the FAA plans to realign V-13 northeast of the McAllen VOR/DME to intersect with V-163 south of the Corpus Christi VORTAC. Additionally, the FAA plans to revise the point of origin of V-407 from the Harlingen VOR/DME to the Brownsville VORTAC and to revise a segment of V-407 north of the Harlingen VOR/DME from the current Harlingen VOR/DME 357° radial to the new Harlingen VOR/DME 351° radial. With this revision, the point at which V-407 intersects V-20 (JIMIE intersection) will remain the same.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing to amend part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise V-13 and V-407 in the Harlingen, TX, area. Specifically, this action proposes to realign V-13 northeast of the McAllen VOR/DME to intersect with V-163 south of the Corpus Christi VORTAC; to revise the point of origin of V-407 from the Harlingen VOR/DME to the Brownsville VORTAC; and to revise V-407 north of the Harlingen VOR/DME to reflect the change of radial due to the relocation of the Harlingen VOR/DME. This action is necessary due to the relocation of the Harlingen VOR/DME and to enhance the management of aircraft operations over the Harlingen, TX, area.

Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 7400.9K dated August 30, 2002, and effective September 16, 2002, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Federal airways 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 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.

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, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND CLASS E, AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; 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 7400.9K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 30, 2002, and effective September 16, 2002, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways

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V-13 [Revised]

From McAllen, TX, via INT McAllen 060°T(051°M) radial and Corpus Christi, TX, 178°T(169°M) radials; Corpus Christi; INT Corpus Christi 039° and Palacios, TX, 241° radials; Palacios; Humble, TX; Lufkin, TX; Belcher, LA; Texarkana, AR; Rich Mountain, OK; Fort Smith, AR; INT Fort Smith 006° and Razorback, AR, 190° radials; Razorback; Neosho, MO; Butler, MO; Napoleon, MO; Lamoni, IA; Des Moines, IA; Mason City, IA; Farmington, MN; INT Farmington 017° and Siren, WI, 218° radials; Siren; Duluth, MN; to Thunder Bay, ON, Canada. The airspace outside the United States is excluded.

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V-407 [Revised]

From Brownsville, TX; Harlingen, TX; via INT Harlingen 351°T(346°M) and Corpus Christi, TX, 193°T(184°M) radials; Corpus Christi; via INT Corpus Christi 039° and Palacios, TX, 241° radials; Palacios; via INT Palacios 017° and Humble, TX, 242° radials; Humble; Daisetta, TX; Lufkin, TX; Elm Grove, LA; to El Dorado, AR.

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Issued in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2003.

Reginald C. Matthews,

Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.