[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3882-3884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00803]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1417; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-17]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of United States Area Navigation Route (RNAV) Q-
476, and Amendment of United States (RNAV) Route T-393; Northeastern 
United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) 
Route Q-476, and amends RNAV Route T-393 in support of the Next 
Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) efforts to provide a 
modern RNAV route structure to improve the safety and efficiency of the 
National Airspace System (NAS).

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, March 21, 2024. 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.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
    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: Brian Vidis, 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.

[[Page 3883]]

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 will expand the availability of RNAV 
routing in the eastern United States and improve the efficient flow of 
air traffic within the NAS by lessening the dependency on ground-based 
navigation.

History

    The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2023-1417 in the 
Federal Register (88 FR 42889; July 5, 2023), proposing to establish 
one and amend one RNAV route in support of transitioning the NAS from a 
ground-based to a satellite-based navigation. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Differences From the NPRM

    Subsequent to the publication of the NPRM, the FAA identified a 
typographical error in the title and the summary that incorrectly 
stated RNAV Route T-739 was to be amended. The correct RNAV Route 
amended is T-393.
    Additionally, in the NPRM's description of RNAV Route T-393, the 
FAA incorrectly listed the GAILS, MA route point as a waypoint (WP). 
The route point is actually identified as a Fix in the National 
Airspace System Resource (NASR) database and charted as a Fix 
accordingly. This final rule corrects these errors.

Incorporation by Reference

    United States Area Navigation routes are published in paragraph 
2006 and 6011 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 amends the current version of that 
order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective 
September 15, 2023. FAA Order JO 7400.11H is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will 
be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H 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 establishing RNAV Route Q-476 
and amending RNAV Route T-393 in the northeastern United States to 
support NextGen efforts to provide a modern RNAV route structure to 
improve the safety and efficiency of the NAS. The RNAV routes are 
described below.
    Q-476: Q-476 is a new RNAV route that extends from the Jamestown, 
NY (JHW), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring 
Equipment (VOR/DME) to the NWTON, NJ, WP. This route overlays portions 
of Jet Routes J-106 and J-70 from the Jamestown VOR/DME to the 
Stillwater, NY (STW), VOR/DME. Q-476 provides connectivity for RNAV-
equipped aircraft between the Jamestown, NY area and the Newark, NJ 
area.
    T-393: T-393 is an amended route that extends from the GAILS, MA, 
Fix to the Burlington, VT (BTV), VOR/DME. This amended route replaces 
the PUTNM, CT, WP with the Putnam, CT (PUT), VOR/DME due to the Putnam, 
CT (PUT), VOR/DME planned decommissioning being extended until the year 
2028. Fixes are removed from the route's legal description for segments 
that contain turns of less than one degree. The following Fixes are 
removed; INNDY, MA, Fix; FOSTY, RI, Fix; GRIPE, MA, Fix; STRUM, NH, 
Fix; UNKER, NH, Fix; MCADM, NH, Fix; ZIECH, VT, Fix; DAVID, VT, Fix; 
CEVIB, VT, Fix; and POROE, VT, Fix.

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 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 establishing RNAV Route 
Q-476 and amending RNAV Route T-393 in the northeastern United States, 
to provide additional RNAV routing within the NAS in support of 
transitioning it from ground-based to satellite-based navigation, 
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 5-6.5b, which categorically 
excludes from further environmental impact review ``Actions regarding 
establishment of jet routes and Federal airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, 
Designation of jet routes and VOR Federal airways) . . .''. As such, 
this airspace action is not expected to cause 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. Accordingly, the FAA 
has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant 
preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
study.

Lists 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 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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and

[[Page 3884]]

effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-476 Jamestown, NY (JHW) to NWTON, NJ [New]
 
Jamestown, NY (JHW)                             VOR/DME                        (Lat. 42[deg]11'18.99'' N, long. 079[deg]07'16.71'' W)
WLKES, PA                                       WP                             (Lat. 41[deg]16'22.57'' N, long. 075[deg]41'21.60'' W)
NWTON, NJ                                       WP                             (Lat. 40[deg]59'45.19'' N, long. 074[deg]52'09.21'' W)
 

* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-393 GAILS, MA to Burlington, VT (BTV) [Amended]
 
GAILS, MA                                       FIX                            (Lat. 41[deg]52'08.51'' N, long. 070[deg]24'07.69'' W)
Providence, RI (PVD)                            VOR/DME                        (Lat. 41[deg]43'27.63'' N, long. 071[deg]25'46.71'' W)
Putnam, CT (PUT)                                VOR/DME                        (Lat. 41[deg]57'19.66'' N, long. 071[deg]50'38.74'' W)
Gardner, MA (GDM)                               VOR/DME                        (Lat. 42[deg]32'45.32'' N, long. 072[deg]03'29.48'' W)
KEYNN, NH                                       WP                             (Lat. 42[deg]47'39.99'' N, long. 072[deg]17'30.35'' W)
LBNON, NH                                       WP                             (Lat. 43[deg]40'44.43'' N, long. 072[deg]12'58.18'' W)
Montpelier, VT (MPV)                            VOR/DME                        (Lat. 44[deg]05'07.72'' N, long. 072[deg]26'57.71'' W)
Burlington, VT (BTV)                            VOR/DME                        (Lat. 44[deg]23'49.58'' N, long. 073[deg]10'57.49'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 11, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-00803 Filed 1-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P