[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3817-3819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00995]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0998; Airspace Docket No. 18-AGL-16]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-217 in the Vicinity 
of Springfield, OH

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends low altitude area navigation (RNAV) route 
T-217 in the vicinity of Springfield, OH, to update the facility type 
listed for the Springfield, OH (SGH), route point in the T-route 
description. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) portion of the 
Springfield VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid 
(NAVAID). No existing route structure or air traffic services are 
affected by this action.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, March 26, 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/.

[[Page 3818]]

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

History

    The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the 
Springfield, OH, VOR/DME NAVAID in March, 2020. The Springfield, OH, 
VOR was one of the candidate VORs identified for discontinuance by the 
FAA's VOR Minimum Operating Network (VOR MON) program and listed in the 
Final policy statement notice, ``Provision of Navigation Services for 
the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to 
Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum 
Operational Network),'' published in the Federal Register of July 26, 
2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. Although the VOR portion 
of the Springfield, OH, VOR/DME is being decommissioned, the 
Springfield, OH, DME is being retained in the same location and charted 
as a DME facility with the same ``SGH'' identifier.
    In reviewing ATS route dependencies associated with the 
Springfield, OH, VOR/DME, the FAA identified T-217 as the only air 
traffic service (ATS) route dependency. Since the Springfield, OH, DME 
facility is being retained in the same location with the same SGH 
identifier, the FAA determined T-217 could be retained as published, 
with minor editorial corrections to the description, to continue 
supporting enroute airspace users, as well as ongoing NextGen efforts 
to transition the national airspace system to performance-based 
navigation.
    This rule makes an editorial amendment to the T-217 legal 
description to reflect the Springfield, OH (SGH), route point as a DME 
facility due to the Springfield, OH, VOR being decommissioned. 
Additionally, other minor editorial corrections are being made to 
comply with route description policy guidance. The editorial amendment 
and corrections to T-217 do not change the route's structure, 
operational use, or charted depiction.
    Low altitude 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 low altitude 
RNAV T-route listed in this rule 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 modifying RNAV route T-217. The planned decommissioning of 
the VOR portion of the Springfield, OH, VOR/DME NAVAID has made this 
action necessary. The route modification is editorial in nature and 
simply changes the type of facility listed for the Springfield, OH 
(SGH) route point. A number of minor editorial formatting corrections 
are also made. No air traffic services are affected by this action and 
no substantive change to the RNAV route is being made. Therefore, 
notice and public procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) is unnecessary.
    The RNAV route modifications accomplished by this action are 
outlined below.
    T-217: T-217 extends between the Lexington, KY, VOR/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) and the BONEE, OH, fix. This rule changes the 
Springfield, OH (SGH) route point from being listed as ``VOR/DME'' to 
``DME''. Additionally, the Lexington VORTAC ``HYK'' identifier is added 
to the first line of the route description and the geographic 
coordinates of each route point are updated to be expressed in degrees, 
minutes, seconds, and hundredths of a second. The existing RNAV route 
remains as charted.

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 RNAV route T-
217 near Springfield, OH, 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

[[Page 3819]]

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(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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-217 Lexington, KY (HYK) to BONEE, OH [Amended]
 
Lexington, KY (HYK)                             VORTAC                         (Lat. 37[deg]57'58.86'' N, long. 84[deg]28'21.06'' W)
BOSTR, OH                                       FIX                            (Lat. 38[deg]53'08.13'' N, long. 84[deg]04'58.02'' W)
HEDEN, OH                                       FIX                            (Lat. 39[deg]16'44.88'' N, long. 84[deg]02'02.37'' W)
PRUDE, OH                                       FIX                            (Lat. 39[deg]25'44.92'' N, long. 83[deg]56'58.60'' W)
Springfield, OH (SGH)                           DME                            (Lat. 39[deg]50'11.55'' N, long. 83[deg]50'41.84'' W)
BONEE, OH                                       FIX                            (Lat. 40[deg]03'08.85'' N, long. 83[deg]56'56.15'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-00995 Filed 1-22-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


