[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4081-4083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01235]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1107; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-156 and V-285 in the Vicinity 
of Kalamazoo, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional 
Range (VOR) Federal airways V-156 and V-285. The FAA is taking this 
action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Kalamazoo, MI (AZO), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) 
navigational aid (NAVAID). The Kalamazoo VOR is being decommissioned in 
support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, April 20, 2023. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 
and publication of conforming amendments.

[[Page 4082]]


ADDRESSES: FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at 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.

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

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for Docket 
No. FAA-2022-1107 in the Federal Register (87 FR 55926; September 13, 
2022), amending VOR Federal airways V-156 and V-285 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME. 
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) of FAA Order 
JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal 
airway actions listed in this document will be published subsequently 
in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Differences From the NPRM

    Subsequent to the NPRM, the FAA published a rule for Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0822 in the Federal Register (88 FR 2816: January 18, 2023), 
amending VOR Federal airway V-285 by removing the airway segment 
between the Brickyard, IN, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the 
Goshen, IN, VORTAC. That airway amendment, effective April 20, 2023, is 
included in this rule.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 
15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class 
A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending VOR Federal airways 
V-156 and V-285 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion 
of the Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME. The airway actions are described below.
    V-156: V-156 extends between the Cedar Rapids, IA, VOR/DME and the 
Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME. The airway segment overlying the Kalamazoo VOR/
DME between the Gipper, MI, VORTAC and the Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME is 
removed. As amended, the airway is changed to extend between the Cedar 
Rapids VOR/DME and the Gipper VORTAC.
    V-285: V-285 extends between the Goshen, IN, VORTAC and the 
Victory, MI, VOR/DME. The airway segment overlying the Kalamazoo VOR/
DME between the Goshen, IN, VORTAC and the Victory, MI, VOR/DME is 
removed. As amended, the airway is removed in its entirety.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway V-156 
description below are unchanged and stated in degrees True north.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
is published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 will only affect air traffic 
procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this 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.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action of amending VOR Federal 
airways V-156 and V-285 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME NAVAID, qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.) 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) and paragraph 5-6.5k, 
which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review 
the publication of existing air traffic control procedures that do not 
essentially change existing tracks, create new tracks, change altitude, 
or change concentration of aircraft on these tracks. 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:

[[Page 4083]]

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 14 CFR 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 JO 
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal airways.

* * * * *

V-156 [Amended]

    From Cedar Rapids, IA; Moline, IL; Bradford, IL; Peotone, IL; 
INT Peotone 098[deg] and Knox, IN, 238[deg] radials; Knox; to 
Gipper, MI.
* * * * *

V-285 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 18, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-01235 Filed 1-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


