Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 18, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 23113 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0654; Airspace 

Docket No. 11–AWP–8] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Modification of VOR Federal Airways 

V–135 and V–137; Southwest United 

States 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This action modifies VHF 

omnidirectional range (VOR) Federal 

airways V–135 and V–137 by extending 

the airways to the Mexicali, Mexico 

VOR/DME. This action enhances 

navigation and air traffic control 

coordination for aircraft proceeding 

across the United States—Mexican 

border. 

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, May 31, 

2012. 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 7400.9 and publication of 

conforming amendments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul 

Gallant, Airspace, Regulations and ATC 

Procedures Group, Office of Airspace 

Services, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

History 

On December 21, 2011, the FAA 

published in the Federal Register a 

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 

to modify V–135 and V–137 in the 

southwest United States (76 FR 79140). 

Interested parties were invited to 

participate in this rulemaking effort by 

submitting written comments on this 

proposal to the FAA. Five comments 

were received. 

Two commenters expressed support 

for the proposal. Three commenters 

objected to the decommissioning of 

VORs in the United States. This rule 

does not involve the decommissioning 

of any VORs; therefore these comments 

are outside the scope of this action. 

However, the comments concerning 

VORs have been forwarded to the FAA 

Navigation Services Group for review. 

The Rule 

The FAA is amending Title 14, Code 

of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 

to extend two existing VOR Federal 

airways to the Mexicali, Mexico VOR/ 

DME. V–135 is amended by adding a 

segment between the Mexicali VOR/ 

DME and the Bard, AZ, VORTAC. V– 

137 is amended by adding a segment 

between the Mexicali VOR/DME and the 

Imperial, CA, VORTAC. These 

amendments benefit cross-border 

navigation. Additionally, fixes are 

established at the border crossing points 

to simplify the control coordination of 

flights between air traffic control 

facilities. 

VOR Federal airways are published in 

paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 

7400.9V signed August 9, 2011 and 

effective September 15, 2011, which is 

incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 

71.1. The VOR Federal Airways listed in 

this document will be published 

subsequently in the Order. 

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. Therefore, this regulation: (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. 

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 VOR Federal airways to 

enhance the efficiency of the National 

Airspace System in the southwest 

United States. Except for editorial 

changes, this rulemaking is the same as 

published in the NPRM of December 21, 

2011. 

Environmental Review 

The FAA has determined that this 

action qualifies for categorical exclusion 

under the National Environmental 

Policy Act in accordance with FAA 

Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: 

Policies and Procedures, paragraph 

311a. This airspace action is not 

expected to cause any potentially 

significant environmental impacts, and 

no extraordinary circumstances exist 

that warrant preparation of an 

environmental assessment. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71 

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, 

Navigation (air). 

Adoption of 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 

■ 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. 

§ 71.1 [Amended] 

■ 2. The incorporation by reference in 

14 CFR 71.1 of the FAA Order 7400.9V, 

Airspace Designations and Reporting 

Points, signed August 9, 2011, and 

effective September 15, 2011, is 

amended as follows: 

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR federal 

airways 

* * * * * 

V–135 [Amended] 

From Mexicali, Mexico; VIA Bard, AZ; 

Blythe, CA; Parker, CA; Needles, CA; Goffs, 

CA; Beatty, NV; INT Beatty 326° and 

Tonopah, NV, 223° radials; to Tonopah. The 

airspace within R–4807 and the airspace 

within Mexico is excluded. 

V–137 [Amended] 

From Mexicali, Mexico; via Imperial, CA; 

INT Imperial 350° and Thermal, CA 144° 

radials; Palm Springs, CA; Palmdale, CA; 

Gorman, CA; Avenal, CA; Priest, CA; Salinas, 

CA. The airspace within Mexico is excluded. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 10, 

2012. 

Gary A. Norek, 

Manager, Airspace, Regulations and ATC 

Procedures Group. 

[FR Doc. 2012–9188 Filed 4–17–12; 8:45 am] 

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