88286 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2023 / Proposed Rules 

MON Program and to support IFR 

operations. 

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 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). 

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 

■ 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. 

§ 71.1 [Amended] 

■ 2. The incorporation by reference in 

14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11H, 

Airspace Designations and Reporting 

Points, dated August 11, 2023, and 

effective September 15, 2023, is 

amended as follows: 

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas 

Designated as a Surface Area. 

* * * * * 

AGL MN E2 Mankato, MN [Amended] 

Mankato Regional Airport, MN 

(Lat. 44°13′22′′ N, long. 93°55′10′′ W) 

Within a 4.2-mile radius of Mankato 

Regional Airport. This Class E airspace is 

effective during the specific dates and times 

established in advance by a Notice to Air 

Missions. The effective dates and times will 

thereafter be continuously published in the 

Chart Supplement. 

* * * * * 

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas 

Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More 

Above the Surface of the Earth. 

* * * * * 

AGL MN E5 Mankato, MN [Amended] 

Mankato Regional Airport, MN 

(Lat. 44°13′22′′ N, long. 93°55′10′′ W) 

Mankato RGNL: RWY 33–LOC 

(Lat. 44°14′22′′ N, long. 93°55′35′′ W) 

Mayo Clinic Health Systems-Mankato, MN, 

Point In Space Coordinates 

(Lat. 44°09′48′′ N, long. 93°57′40′′ W) 

That airspace extending upward from 700 

feet above the surface within a 6.7-mile 

radius of Mankato Regional Airport; and 

within 1.9 miles each side of the 155° bearing 

from the Mankato RGNL: RWY 33–LOC 

extending from the 6.77-mile radius to 11.1 

miles southeast of Mankato Regional Airport; 

and within 2 miles each side of the 227° 

bearing from the Mankato Regional Airport 

extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 11 

miles southwest of the Mankato Regional 

Airport; and within a 6-mile radius of the 

point in space serving Mayo Clinic Health 

Systems-Mankato. 

* * * * * 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 

18, 2023. 

Martin A. Skinner, 

Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, 

ATO Central Service Center. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28089 Filed 12–20–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–2466; Airspace 

Docket No. 23–ACE–6] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V– 

220 and Revocation of VOR Federal 

Airways V–79 and V–380 in the Vicinity 

of Hastings, NE 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

amend Very High Frequency 

Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 

Airway V–220 and revoke VOR Federal 

Airways V–79 and V–380. The FAA is 

proposing this action due to the planned 

decommissioning of the VOR portion of 

the Hastings, NE (HSI), VOR/Distance 

Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) 

navigational aid (NAVAID). The 

Hastings VOR is being decommissioned 

in support of the FAA’s VOR Minimum 

Operational Network (MON) program. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before February 5, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by FAA Docket No. FAA–2023–2466 

and Airspace Docket No. 23–ACE–6 

using any of the following methods: 

* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov and follow the 

online instructions for sending your 

comments electronically. 

* Mail: Send comments to Docket 

Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West 

Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 

20590–0001. 

* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take 

comments to Docket Operations in 

Room W12–140 of the West Building 

Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

* Fax: Fax comments to Docket 

Operations at (202) 493–2251. 

Docket: Background documents or 

comments received may be read at 

www.regulations.gov at any time. 

Follow the online instructions for 

accessing the docket or go to the Docket 

Operations in Room W12–140 of the 

West Building Ground Floor at 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, and 

subsequent amendments can be viewed 

online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/ 

publications/. You may also contact the 

Rules and Regulations Group, Office of 

Policy, 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, 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2023 / Proposed Rules 88287 

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 National Airspace System as 

necessary to preserve the safe and 

efficient flow of air traffic. 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites interested persons to 

participate in this rulemaking by 

submitting written comments, data, or 

views. Comments are specifically 

invited on the overall regulatory, 

aeronautical, economic, environmental, 

and energy-related aspects of the 

proposal. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the 

proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. To ensure the docket 

does not contain duplicate comments, 

commenters should submit only one 

time if comments are filed 

electronically, or commenters should 

send only one copy of written 

comments if comments are filed in 

writing. 

The FAA will file in the docket all 

comments it receives, as well as a report 

summarizing each substantive public 

contact with FAA personnel concerning 

this proposed rulemaking. Before acting 

on this proposal, the FAA will consider 

all comments it receives on or before the 

closing date for comments. The FAA 

will consider comments filed after the 

comment period has closed if it is 

possible to do so without incurring 

expense or delay. The FAA may change 

this proposal in light of the comments 

it receives. 

Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 

553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 

public to better inform its rulemaking 

process. DOT posts these comments, 

without edit, including any personal 

information the commenter provides, to 

www.regulations.gov, as described in 

the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 

14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 

www.dot.gov/privacy. 

Availability of Rulemaking Documents 

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 Operations office 

(see ADDRESSES section for address, 

phone number, and hours of 

operations). An informal docket may 

also be examined during normal 

business hours at the office of the 

Operations Support Group, Central 

Service Center, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 10101 Hillwood 

Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177. 

Incorporation by Reference 

VOR Federal Airways are published 

in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order JO 

7400.11, Airspace Designations and 

Reporting Points, which is incorporated 

by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an 

annual basis. This document proposes 

to amend the current version of that 

order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated 

August 11, 2023, and effective 

September 15, 2023. These updates 

would be published in the next update 

to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is 

publicly available as listed in the 

ADDRESSES section of this document. 

FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, 

B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic 

service routes, and reporting points. 

Background 

The FAA is planning to 

decommission the VOR portion of the 

Hastings, NE, VOR/DME in September 

2024. The Hastings VOR is one of the 

candidate VORs identified for 

discontinuance by the FAA’s 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 PerformanceBased Navigation (PBN) (Plan for 

Establishing a VOR Minimum 

Operational Network),’’ published in the 

Federal Register on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 

48694), Docket No. FAA–2011–1082. 

Although the VOR portion of the 

Hastings VOR/DME is planned for 

decommissioning, the co-located DME 

portion of the NAVAID is being retained 

to support current and future NextGen 

PBN flight procedure requirements. 

The VOR Federal Airways affected by 

the planned decommissioning of the 

Hastings VOR are V–79, V–220, and V– 

380. With the planned decommissioning 

of the Hastings VOR, the remaining 

ground-based NAVAID coverage in the 

area is insufficient to enable the 

continuity of the affected airways. As 

such, proposed modifications to V–220 

would result in the airway segments 

supported by the Hastings VOR being 

removed and to V–79 and V–380 would 

result in the airways being revoked. 

To address the proposed amendment 

and revocation actions to the affected 

airways, instrument flight rules (IFR) 

traffic could use adjacent VOR Federal 

Airways V–6, V–8, or V–38, or request 

radar vectors from air traffic control 

(ATC) to fly around or through the 

affected area. Additionally, pilots with 

Area Navigation (RNAV) equipped 

aircraft could also navigate using RNAV 

routes T–286, T–413, and T–468, or 

navigate point-to-point using the 

existing fixes that would remain in 

place to support continued operations 

though the affected area. Visual flight 

rules pilots who elect to navigate via the 

affected VOR Federal Airways could 

also take advantage of the adjacent 

airways or routes, or the ATC services 

listed previously. 

The Proposal 

The FAA is proposing an amendment 

to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR 

Federal Airway V–220 and revoke VOR 

Federal Airways V–79 and V–380 due to 

the planned decommissioning of the 

VOR portion of the Hastings, NE, VOR/ 

DME. The proposed airway actions are 

described below. 

V–79: V–79 currently extends 

between the Hastings, NE, VOR/DME 

and the Lincoln, NE, VOR/Tactical Air 

Navigation (VORTAC). The FAA 

proposes to remove the airway in its 

entirety. 

V–220: V–220 currently extends 

between the Grand Junction, CO, VOR/ 

DME and the Columbus, NE, VOR/DME. 

The FAA proposes to remove the airway 

segment between the Kearney, NE, VOR 

and the Columbus VOR/DME. As 

amended, the airway would be changed 

to extend between the Grand Junction 

VOR/DME and the Kearney VOR. 

V–380: V–380 currently extends 

between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/ 

DME and the Mankato, KS, VORTAC. 

The FAA proposes to remove the airway 

in its entirety. 

The NAVAID radials listed in the V– 

220 description in the proposed 

regulatory text of this NPRM are 

unchanged and stated in degrees True 

north. 

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 DOT Regulatory Policies 

and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 

26, 1979); and (3) does not warrant 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
88288 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2023 / Proposed Rules 

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). 

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 

■ 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. 

§ 71.1 [Amended] 

■ 2. The incorporation by reference in 

14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11H, 

Airspace Designations and Reporting 

Points, dated August 11, 2023, and 

effective September 15, 2023, is 

amended as follows: 

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal 

Airways. 

* * * * * 

V–79 [Removed] 

* * * * * 

V–220 [Amended] 

From Grand Junction, CO; INT Grand 

Junction 075° and Rifle, CO, 163° radials; 

Rifle; Meeker, CO; Hayden, CO; Kremmling, 

CO; INT Kremmling 081° and Gill, CO, 234° 

radials; Gill; Akron, CO; INT Akron 094° and 

McCook, NE, 264° radials; McCook; INT 

McCook 072° and Kearney, NE, 237° radials; 

to Kearney. 

* * * * * 

V–380 [Removed] 

* * * * * 

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 

15, 2023. 

Brian Konie, 

Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations 

Group. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28031 Filed 12–20–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 73 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–2371; Airspace 

Docket No. 22–ANM–42] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Establishment of Restricted Area R– 

4601 in the Vicinity of Townsend, MT 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

establish restricted area R–4601 in the 

vicinity of Townsend, MT. The new 

restricted area would provide the 

Montana Army National Guard 

(MTARNG) and the 40th Helicopter 

Squadron with the ability to conduct 

aerial gunnery training. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before February 5, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by FAA Docket No. FAA–2023–2371 

and Airspace Docket No. 22–ANM–42 

using any of the following methods: 

* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov and follow the 

online instructions for sending your 

comments electronically. 

* Mail: Send comments to Docket 

Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West 

Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 

20590–0001. 

* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take 

comments to Docket Operations in 

Room W12–140 of the West Building 

Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

* Fax: Fax comments to Docket 

Operations at (202) 493–2251. 

Docket: Background documents or 

comments received may be read at 

www.regulations.gov at any time. 

Follow the online instructions for 

accessing the docket or go to the Docket 

Operations in Room W12–140 of the 

West Building Ground Floor at 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

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 

establish restricted area airspace over 

the MTARNG Limestone Hills Training 

Area near Townsend, MT. 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites interested persons to 

participate in this rulemaking by 

submitting written comments, data, or 

views. Comments are specifically 

invited on the overall regulatory, 

aeronautical, economic, environmental, 

and energy-related aspects of the 

proposal. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the 

proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. To ensure the docket 

does not contain duplicate comments, 

commenters should submit only one 

time if comments are filed 

electronically, or commenters should 

send only one copy of written 

comments if comments are filed in 

writing. 

The FAA will file in the docket all 

comments it receives, as well as a report 

summarizing each substantive public 

contact with FAA personnel concerning 

this proposed rulemaking. Before acting 

on this proposal, the FAA will consider 

all comments it receives on or before the 

closing date for comments. The FAA 

will consider comments filed after the 

comment period has closed if it is 

possible to do so without incurring 

expense or delay. The FAA may change 

this proposal in light of the comments 

it receives. 

Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 

553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 

public to better inform its rulemaking 

process. DOT posts these comments, 

without edit, including any personal 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS