[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12953-12954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03483]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1147; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-55]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal Airway V-333 in the Vicinity of Shishmaref, AK, and 
Revocation of Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-401 in the Vicinity of 
Ambler, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional 
Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-333 and revokes Alaskan VOR Federal Airway 
V-401. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning 
of the Shishmaref, AK, and Ambler, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacons 
(NDB). The identifier V-333 is also used as an identifier for Domestic 
VOR Federal Airway V-333 in the vicinity of Rome, GA. The identifier V-
401 is also used as an identifier for Domestic VOR Federal Airway V-401 
in the vicinity of Worland, WY. This airspace action only pertains to 
the Alaskan V-333 and V-401. The V-333 near Rome, GA and V-401 near 
Worland, WY, are not affected by this airspace action.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, May 16, 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: 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 modifies the Air Traffic Service (ATS) route structure 
as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic 
within the National Airspace System.

History

    The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA 2023-1147 in the 
Federal Register (88 FR 54251; August 10, 2023), proposing to amend V-
333 and to revoke V-401 in Alaska. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    Alaskan VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010 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 amending Alaskan VOR Federal 
Airway V-333 and revoking Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-401, in its 
entirety, in the state of Alaska.
    V-333: Prior to this final rule, Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-333 
extended between the Hooper Bay, AK, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment 
(DME), the Nome, AK, VOR/DME, and the Shishmaref, AK, Nondirectional 
Radio Beacon (NBD). The airway segment between the Nome VOR/DME and the 
Shishmaref NBD is removed. As amended, the airway is now changed to 
extend between the Hooper Bay VOR/DME and the Nome VOR/DME.
    V-401: Prior to this final rule, Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-401 
extended between the Ambler, AK, NDB, the Kotzebue, AK, VOR/DME, and 
the Shishmaref, AK, NDB. The airway is removed in its entirety.
    The identifier V-333 is also used as an identifier for Domestic VOR 
Federal Airway V-333 in the vicinity of Rome, GA. The identifier V-401 
is also used as an identifier for Domestic VOR Federal Airway V-401 in 
the vicinity of Worland, WY. This airspace action only pertains to the 
Alaskan V-333 and V-401. The V-333 near Rome, GA and V-401 near 
Worland, WY, are not affected by this airspace action.

[[Page 12954]]

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 airspace action of amending 
Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-333 and revoking Alaskan VOR Federal 
Airway V-401 in Alaska 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-
6.5i, establishment of new or revised air traffic control procedures 
conducted at 3,000 feet or more above ground level (AGL); procedures 
conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not cause traffic to be 
routinely routed over noise sensitive areas; modifications to currently 
approved procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not 
significantly increase noise over noise sensitive areas, and increases 
in minimum altitudes and landing minima. For modifications to air 
traffic procedures at or above 3,000 feet AGL, the Noise Screening Tool 
(NST) or other FAA-approved environmental screening methodology should 
be applied. 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. Accordingly, 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:

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 effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(b) Alaskan VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *

V-333 [Amended]

    From Hooper Bay, AK; to Nome, AK.
* * * * *

V-401 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 14, 2024.
Brian Eric Konie,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-03483 Filed 2-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P