[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7899-7901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02463]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0235; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANM-52]
RIN 2120-AA66


Revocation of Segments of V-330 and Establishment T-470 Near 
Boise, ID

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revoke the portion of the Very High 
Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-330 
between the Boise VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) and the intersection of Liberator VOR 084[deg] 
radial and Burley VOR 323[deg] radial. This action also proposes to 
establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-470. These 
actions are due to the planned decommissioning of the Liberator ID, VOR 
(LIA).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2023-0235; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANM-52 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at 
www.regulations.gov.
    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: Steven Roff, 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 would modify the airway structure as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National 
Airspace System.

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments

[[Page 7900]]

are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, 
economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.
    Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2023-0235; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANM-52 and be submitted to the 
Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone 
number). You may also submit comments through the internet at 
www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-0235; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANM-52.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date will be considered before taking action on the proposed 
rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment 
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRM

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the office of the Western Service Center, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend 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.

Background

    The FAA is decommissioning underutilized navigational aids 
(NAVAIDS) throughout the National Airspace System (NAS) through the VOR 
Minimal Operation Network (MON) program. The goal is to transition the 
NAS to use of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) through use of the 
Global Positioning System (GPS) as the primary means of aircraft 
navigation, retaining a reduced number of ground-based NAVAIDS to 
provide backup in the event of a loss of GPS. The decommissioning of 
Liberator VOR is part of this program.
    With the planned decommissioning of Liberator VOR, the remaining 
ground-based coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of certain segments of V-330. As such, this proposal would 
result in these unsupported segments being revoked. The segment between 
the Boise VORTAC and the intersection of the Boise VORTAC 130[deg] 
radial and Liberator VOR 084[deg] radial requires no mitigation as it 
shares routing with V-4 and V-253. The establishment of T-470 is 
proposed to replace the revoked segment between the intersection of the 
Boise VORTAC 130[deg] and Liberator VOR 084[deg] radials and the 
intersection of the Liberator VOR 084[deg] radial and the Burley VOR 
323[deg] radial. Additionally, T-470 is proposed to continue eastward 
beyond the intersection of the Liberator VOR 084[deg] radial and the 
Burley VOR 323[deg] radial. This continuance of T-470 will increase NAS 
efficiency and aviation safety by providing routing through the Snake 
River Valley in Idaho and south of the Wind River Range in Wyoming. 
This routing will allow for lower Minimum Enroute Altitudes and will 
avoid areas of downslope winds.

The Proposal

    V-330: V-330 is currently made up of two separate portions. The 
first navigates between the Wildhorse, OR, VOR; and the intersection of 
the Liberator VOR 084[deg] radial and the Burley VOR 323[deg] radial. 
The second section navigates between the Idaho Falls, ID, VOR; and the 
Muddy Mountain, WY, VOR. The FAA proposes changes to the first portion. 
The FAA does not propose changes to the second portion.
    In the first portion, the FAA proposes to revoke two contiguous 
segments. The first is the segment between the Boise VORTAC and the 
intersection of the Boise VORTAC 130[deg] radial and Liberator VOR 
084[deg] radial. The second is between the intersection of the Boise 
VORTAC 130[deg] radial and Liberator VOR 084[deg] radial and the 
intersection of the Liberator VOR 084[deg] radial and the Burley VOR 
323[deg] radial.
    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 V-330 airway 
listed in this document would be modified subsequently in FAA Order JO 
7400.11.
    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to establish 
RNAV T-route T-470 in the vicinity of Boise, ID.
    The new route is described as follows:
    T-470: RNAV route T-470 extends between ALKAL, ID; KINZE, ID; 
VIPUC, WY; IDECA, WY; DEDNE, WY; DEKKR, WY; SWEAT, WY; and CHOMP, WY.
    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 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 will only affect air traffic 
procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed 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

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

[[Page 7901]]

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 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 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-330 [Amended]

    From Wildhorse, OR; to Boise, ID. From Idaho Falls, ID; Jackson, 
WY; Dunoir, WY; Riverton, WY; to Muddy Mountain, WY.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

 
                                                                        * * * * *
T-470 ALKAL WP, ID TO CHOMP WP, WY
 
ALKAL, ID                                         Fix                           (Lat. 43[deg]00'58.35'' N, long. 115[deg]19'41.26'' W)
KINZE, ID                                         Fix                           (Lat. 43[deg]04'51.80'' N, long. 114[deg]23'19.23'' W)
VIPUC, WY                                         Fix                           (Lat. 43[deg]21'09.64'' N, long. 112[deg]14'44.08'' W)
IDECA, WY                                         Fix                           (Lat. 42[deg]51'31.06'' N, long. 110[deg]16'25.75'' W)
DEDNE, WY                                         WP                            (Lat. 42[deg]30'56.06'' N, long. 109[deg]35'23.93'' W)
DEKKR, WY                                         WP                            (Lat. 42[deg]21'25.98'' N, long. 109[deg]02'18.06'' W)
SWEAT, WY                                         Fix                           (Lat. 42[deg]26'35.02'' N, long. 108[deg]27'10.31'' W)
CHOMP, WY                                         Fix                           (Lat. 42[deg]36'23.25'' N, long. 106[deg]45'30.94'' W)
 
                                                                        * * * * *
 


    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-02463 Filed 2-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


