[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 80383-80384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22610]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0367; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASO-41]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-83; 
Eastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route 
Q-83 in the eastern United States. This action supports the Northeast 
Corridor Atlantic Coast Routes (NEC ACR) Optimization Project to 
improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, December 26, 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 7400.11J, 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, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Vidis, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 600 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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 NAS.

History

    The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA 2024-0367 in the 
Federal Register (89 FR 23532; April 4, 2024), proposing to amend RNAV 
Route Q-83 in the eastern United States. 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 publication of the NPRM, the FAA identified that the 
WHTTL, NC, waypoint (WP) had been inadvertently omitted from the route 
description of RNAV Route Q-83. This route point is required to be 
added to the route description of RNAV Route Q-83 as it represents a 
turn point of one degree or more. The WHTTL, NC, WP is added between 
the EFFAY, SC, WP and the Greensboro, NC (GSO), Very High Frequency 
Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) in the 
description of Q-83. The addition of the WHTTL WP does not 
substantively alter the route of Q-83.

Incorporation by Reference

    United States Area Navigation routes (Q-routes) are published in 
paragraph 2006 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 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective 
September 15, 2024. FAA Order JO 7400.11J 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 7400.11J 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 RNAV Route Q-83 in 
the eastern United States. This action supports the NEC ACR 
Optimization Project to improve the efficiency of the NAS. The 
amendments are described below.
    Q-83: Prior to this final rule, Q-83 extended between the JEVED, 
GA, WP and the SLOJO, SC, WP. The FAA removes the SLOJO WP from the 
route and extends Q-83 to the north between the EFFAY, SC, WP and the 
Greensboro, NC (GSO), VORTAC. The proposed RNAV route extension 
provides more efficient routing for aircraft transitioning between 
Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Atlanta 
ARTCC, as the Greensboro VORTAC is located on the boundary between 
Jacksonville ARTCC and Atlanta ARTCC.
    Additionally, the TAALN, GA, WP and the KONEY, SC, WP are removed 
from the route description as they make up segments that contain a turn 
of less than one degree. The WHTTL, NC, WP is added between the EFFAY, 
SC, WP and the Greensboro, NC (GSO), VORTAC as it makes up segments 
that contain a turn of one degree or more. As amended, the route 
extends between the JEVED WP and the Greensboro VORTAC.

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)

[[Page 80384]]

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 RNAV 
Route Q-83 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 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 
statement.

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 
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-83 JEVED, GA to Greensboro, NC (GSO) [Amended]
 
JEVED, GA                                      WP                            (Lat. 31[deg]15'02.60'' N, long. 081[deg]03'40.14'' W)
ROYCO, GA                                      WP                            (Lat. 31[deg]35'10.38'' N, long. 081[deg]02'22.45'' W)
WURFL, SC                                      WP                            (Lat. 32[deg]31'46.59'' N, long. 081[deg]01'08.07'' W)
EFFAY, SC                                      WP                            (Lat. 34[deg]15'30.67'' N, long. 080[deg]30'37.94'' W)
WHTTL, NC                                      WP                            (Lat. 35[deg]23'30.04'' N, long. 080[deg]17'52.25'' W)
Greensboro, NC (GSO)                           VORTAC                        (Lat. 36[deg]02'44.50'' N, long. 079[deg]58'34.94'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 27, 2024.
Brian Eric Konie,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-22610 Filed 10-2-24; 8:45 am]
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