[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 79 (Thursday, April 23, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22586-22587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08556]


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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, delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This action changes the effective date of a final rule 
published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020, removing VHF 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-61 and extending area 
navigation (RNAV) route T-286 in its place due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Robinson, KS,

[[Page 22587]]

VOR navigation aid (NAVAID). The FAA is delaying the effective date to 
coincide with the slipped decommissioning date of the Robinson VOR to 
September 10, 2020, and the anticipated completion of pre-requisite air 
traffic control (ATC) training necessary to safely implement new air 
traffic procedures necessary to adopt the rule amendments.

DATES: The effective date of the final rule published on March 9, 2020 
(85 FR 13481) is delayed until September 10, 2020. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved 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.

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: 

Background

    The FAA published a final rule in the Federal Register for Docket 
No. FAA-2019-0677 (85 FR 13481, March 9, 2020), removing VOR Federal 
airway V-61 in its entirety and extending RNAV route T-286 in its place 
due to the planned decommissioning of the Robinson, KS, VOR NAVAID. The 
effective date for that final rule is May 21, 2020. Subsequent to the 
final rule, due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns and response 
considerations, ATC facilities across the National Airspace System 
(NAS) have adjusted controller scheduling and reduced staffing to 
reduce pandemic impacts. This has resulted in controller training and 
briefing challenges while they perform essential ATC duties supporting 
the NAS. As a result, some ATC facilities affected by the rule 
amendments were unable to complete the required pre-requisite 
controller training necessary to safely implement new air traffic 
procedures necessary to adopt the regulatory air traffic service (ATS) 
route amendments, and accompanying arrival procedure actions, to 
support the May 21, 2020, effective date.
    To facilitate the safe and continuous use of existing air traffic 
procedures, and allow sufficient time for ATC facilities to complete 
the required prerequisite training necessary to safely implement the 
new air traffic procedures, the planned decommissioning of the 
Robinson, KS, VOR has been slipped to September 10, 2020. Therefore, 
the rule removing V-61 and amending T-286 is delayed to coincide with 
that date.
    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 airways 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.

Good Cause for No Notice and Comment

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of Title 5, United States Code, (the 
Administrative Procedure Act) authorizes agencies to dispense with 
notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency for ``good 
cause'' finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, 
or contrary to the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, 
upon finding good cause, may issue a final rule without seeking comment 
prior to the rulemaking. The FAA finds that prior notice and public 
comment to this final rule is unnecessary due to the brief length of 
the extension of the effective date and the fact that there is no 
substantive change to the rule.''

Delay of Effective Date

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the effective 
date of the final rule, Airspace Docket 19-ACE-5, as published in the 
Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13481), FR Doc. 2020-04657, is 
hereby delayed until September 10, 2020.

     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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 17, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-08556 Filed 4-22-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


