[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 45 (Friday, March 6, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12998-12999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04422]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0665; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASO-7]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-56, and V-209 in the Vicinity 
of Kewanee, MS

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 
airways V-56 and V-209, in the vicinity of Kewanee, MS. This action is 
necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Kewanee, MS, VORTAC 
navigation aid, which provides navigation guidance for segments of the 
routes.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, May 21, 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 Policy Group, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-8783. 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: 
fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

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 in the National Airspace 
System as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air 
traffic.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2017-0665 in the Federal Register (82 FR 40737; August 28, 2017) 
amending VOR Federal airways V-56, and V-209 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Kewanee, MS, VORTAC. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal. One comment was received.

Discussion of Comment

    The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) stated that, when 
VOR NAVAIDs are to be decommissioned and routes correspondingly 
removed, the FAA should create an Area Navigation (RNAV) waypoint (WP) 
at the previous NAVAID location, and retain all fixes and intersections 
along the removed route by converting them to RNAV waypoints.
    The FAA established the KWANE, MS, WP located near the current 
location of the Kewanee VORTAC. In a separate rulemaking action, the 
FAA established a new RNAV route, designated T-239 that replaces V-56 
between Meridian, MS, and Montgomery, AL; and RNAV route T-292 that 
replaces V-209 between the YARBO, AL, fix, and the EUTAW, AL, fix. 
Selected fixes along the affected route sections are incorporated in T-
239 and T-292.
    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 would be subsequently published in the Order.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

Differences From the NPRM

    The NPRM incorrectly listed the wrong location for the Kewannee

[[Page 12999]]

VORTAC; correct location is Kewannee, MS. The NPRM proposed to amend V-
56 by removing the airway segments between Meridian, MS, and Tuskegee, 
AL. The FAA has decided to retain the segment between Montgomery, AL 
and Tuskegee, AL in order to join T-290 at Montgomery.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by modifying VOR Federal airways V-56 and V-209. The planned 
decommissioning of the Kewanee, MS, VORTAC has made these actions 
necessary. The VOR Federal airway changes are outlined below.
    V-56: V-56 currently extends between the Meridian, MS, VORTAC and 
the New Bern, NC, VOR/DME. This rule removes the airway segments 
between the Meridian, MS, VORTAC and the Montgomery, AL, VOR/DME. As 
amended, V-56 extends between Montgomery, AL, and New Bern, NC as 
currently charted.
    In a separate action, (84 FR 64989; November 26, 2019) the FAA 
established RNAV route T-290 that extends between the HABJE, MS, fix 
(west of the Meridian, MS, VORTAC) and the JACET, GA, waypoint. T-290 
replaces V-56 between Meridian, MS, and Montgomery, AL.
    V-209: V-209 currently extends between the Semmes, AL, VORTAC and 
the Choo Choo, TN, VORTAC. This action removes the Kewanee, AL, VORTAC 
from the route, resulting in a gap in the airway between the 
intersection of the Semmes, AL, 356[deg] and Eaton, MS, 080[deg] 
radials (i.e., the charted YARBO, AL, fix, located approximately 43 NM 
north of Semmes, AL), and the intersection of the Bigbee, MS 
139[deg](T)/135[deg](M) and Brookwood, AL 230[deg](T)/230[deg](M) 
radials (i.e., the charted EUTAW, AL, fix, located approximately 41 NM 
northeast of Kewanee). Therefore, the amended V-209 route consists of 
two sections: first, between Semmes, AL, and the YARBO fix; and, after 
the gap, V-209 resumes between the EUTAW fix to Choo Choo, TN as 
currently charted.
    In the above separate action, the FAA established RNAV route T-292 
that extends between Semmes, AL, and the JACET, GA, WP. T-292 replaces 
V-209 between the YARBO, AL, fix and the EUTAW, AL, fix.

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 only affects air traffic procedures 
and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated, 
does 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 modifying VOR Federal 
airways V-56 and V-209 near Kewanee, MS, 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).

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

0
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.


Sec.  71.1   [Amended]

0
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-56 [Amended]

    From Montgomery, AL; Tuskegee, AL; Columbus, GA; INT Columbus 
087[deg] and Macon, GA, 266[deg] radials; Macon; Colliers, SC; 
Columbia, SC; Florence, SC; Fayetteville, NC, 41 miles 15 MSL, INT 
Fayetteville 098[deg] and New Bern, NC 256[deg] radials; to New 
Bern.

V-209 [Amended]

    From Semmes, AL, to INT Semmes 356[deg] and Eaton, MS, 080[deg] 
radials. From INT Bigbee, MS 139[deg] and Brookwood, AL 230[deg] 
radials; Brookwood; Vulcan, AL; INT Vulcan 097[deg] and Gadsden, AL, 
233[deg] radials; Gadsden; INT Gadsden 042[deg] and Choo Choo, TN, 
214[deg] radials; Choo Choo.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 25, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-04422 Filed 3-5-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


