
[Federal Register: February 9, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 26)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 6319-6320]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09fe10-10]                         

========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================



[[Page 6319]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0015; Airspace Docket No. 09-ASW-18]
RIN 2120-AA66

 
Proposed Amendment of Low Altitude Area Navigation Route T-254; 
Houston, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify low altitude Area Navigation 
(RNAV) route T-254 in the Houston, TX, terminal area by eliminating the 
segment between the Centex, TX, VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) and the College Station, TX, VORTAC. This action 
would eliminate a portion of T-254 that is no longer needed; thus, 
enhance safety and the efficient use of the navigable airspace in the 
Houston, TX, terminal area.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 26, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2010-
0015 and Airspace Docket No. 09-ASW-18 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace and Rules 
Group, Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-8783.

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-2010-0015 and Airspace Docket No. 09-ASW-18) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ``ADDRESSES'' section 
for address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.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-2010-0015 and Airspace Docket No. 09-ASW-18.'' 
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 NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://
www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    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 Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 
76137.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend the low altitude RNAV route T-254 
in the Houston, TX, terminal area by eliminating the route segment 
between the Centex, TX, VORTAC and College Station, TX, VORTAC. When 
established, the original purpose of T-254 was to provide a navigable 
route for en route Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations navigating 
around the Houston Class B terminal airspace area where no existing 
structure existed. However, the T-254 route segment noted above was 
inadvertently established overlaying a portion of the existing VHF 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) airway V-565. This action would eliminate 
the unnecessary duplication of an existing National Airspace System 
route to enhance safety and facilitate the efficient use of the 
navigable airspace for en route IFR operations transitioning around the 
Houston Class B terminal airspace area.
    Low altitude RNAV routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA 
Order 7400.9T, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, signed 
August 27, 2009, and effective September 15, 2009, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The low altitude RNAV route 
listed in this document will 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

[[Page 6320]]

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.
    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 a low altitude RNAV T-route in the Houston, TX, 
terminal area.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an 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.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the FAA Order 
7400.9T, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 27, 
2009, and effective September 15, 2009, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes
* * * * *

T-254 College Station, TX to Lake Charles, LA [Amended]

College Station, TX (CLL).......  VORTAC.............  (lat. 30[deg]36'18''N., long. 96[deg]25'14''W.)
EAKES, TX.......................  WP.................  (lat. 30[deg]33'18''N., long. 95[deg]18'29''W.)
CREPO, TX.......................  WP.................  (lat. 30[deg]16'54''N., long. 94[deg]14'43''W.)
Lake Charles, LA (LCH)..........  VORTAC.............  (lat. 30[deg]08'29''N., long. 93[deg]06'20''W.)



    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 2, 2010.
Edith V. Parish,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Group.
[FR Doc. 2010-2708 Filed 2-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

