[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 46 (Monday, March 9, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13481-13482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04657]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0677; Airspace Docket No. 19-ACE-5]
RIN 2120-AA66


Revocation of VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-61 
and Amendment of Area Navigation Route T-286 Due to the Decommissioning 
of the Robinson, KS, VOR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action removes VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 
airway V-61 in its entirety and extends area navigation (RNAV) route T-
286 in its place. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Robinson, KS (RBA), VOR portion of the Robinson 
VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID). The 
Robinson VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR 
Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

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 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: Colby Abbott, 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 air traffic service 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-2019-0677 in the Federal Register (84 FR 46905; September 6, 2019) 
removing VOR Federal airway V-61 and extending RNAV route T-286 in its 
place. 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) and RNAV T-
routes are published in paragraph 6011 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 airway and RNAV T-route 
listed in this document will be subsequently published in the Order.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 
2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by removing VOR Federal airway V-61 and extending RNAV route T-
286 to overlay the V-61 routing being removed. The planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Robinson, KS, VOR/DME has 
made this action necessary. The air traffic service (ATS) route actions 
are described below.
    V-61: V-61 extends between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME and the 
intersection of the Robinson, KS, VOR/DME 141[deg] and St. Joseph, MO, 
VOR Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 211[deg] radials (BOWLR fix). The 
airway is removed in its entirety.
    T-286: T-286 extends between the Rapid City, SD, VORTAC and the 
Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME. The route is extended southeast between the 
Grand Island VOR/DME and the BOWLR fix. Additionally, the Rapid City 
VORTAC

[[Page 13482]]

``RAP'' identifier is added to the first line of the route description; 
the type of fix for the EFFEX fix and the type of NAVAID facility for 
Grand Island, NE, are corrected; and the geographic coordinates of each 
route point are updated to be expressed in degrees, minutes, seconds, 
and hundredths of a second.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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. 
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 airspace action of removing VOR 
Federal airway V-61 and extending RNAV route T-286 in its place has no 
potential to cause any significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment. Therefore, this airspace action has been 
categorically excluded from further environmental impact review in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its 
implementing regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508, 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). 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 
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-61 [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-286 Rapid City, SD (RAP) to BOWLR, KS [Amended]
 
Rapid City, SD (RAP)              VORTAC            (Lat. 43[deg]58'33.74'' N, long. 103[deg]00'44.38'' W)
Gordon, NE (GRN)                  NDB               (Lat. 42[deg]48'03.90'' N, long. 102[deg]10'45.82'' W)
EFFEX, NE                         FIX               (Lat. 42[deg]19'59.17'' N, long. 101[deg]20'11.41'' W)
Thedford, NE (TDD)                VOR/DME           (Lat. 41[deg]58'53.99'' N, long. 100[deg]43'08.52'' W)
BOKKI, NE                         FIX               (Lat. 41[deg]39'54.99'' N, long. 99[deg]52'17.00'' W)
Grand Island, NE (GRI)            VOR/DME           (Lat. 40[deg]59'02.50'' N, long. 98[deg]18'53.20'' W)
Pawnee City, NE (PWE)             VORTAC            (Lat. 40[deg]12'01.27'' N, long. 96[deg]12'22.61'' W)
Robinson, KS (RBA)                DME               (Lat. 39[deg]51'03.00'' N, long. 95[deg]25'23.00'' W)
BOWLR, KS                         FIX               (Lat. 39[deg]37'21.29'' N, long. 95[deg]11'00.26'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-04657 Filed 3-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


