This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

101545 

Vol. 89, No. 241 

Monday, December 16, 2024 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–2672; Airspace 

Docket No. 24–ASW–13] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Amendment of VOR Federal Airways 

V–161, V–163, and V–568; and 

Establishment of United States RNAV 

Route T–545 in the Vicinity of Three 

Rivers, TX 

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 

Airways V–161, V–163, and V–568; and 

to establish United States Area 

Navigation (RNAV) Route T–545. The 

FAA is proposing this action due to the 

planned decommissioning of the VOR 

portion of the Three Rivers, TX (THX), 

VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 

navigational aid (NAVAID). The Three 

Rivers VOR is being decommissioned in 

support of the FAA’s VOR Minimum 

Operational Network (MON) program. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before January 30, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by FAA Docket No. FAA–2024–2672 

and Airspace Docket No. 24–ASW–13 

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 7400.11J, 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: 

Colby Abbott, 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 would 

modify the National Airspace System 

(NAS) 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. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
101546 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 241 / Monday, December 16, 2024 / Proposed Rules 

Incorporation by Reference 

VOR Federal Airways are published 

in paragraph 6010(a) and United States 

Area Navigation Routes (T-routes) are 

published in paragraph 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 proposes to amend the 

current version of that order, FAA Order 

JO 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and 

effective September 15, 2024. 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 7400.11J 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 

Three Rivers, TX, VORTAC in August 

2025. The Three Rivers VOR was 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 

Three Rivers VORTAC is planned for 

decommissioning, the co-located 

Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) 

portion of the NAVAID is being 

retained. The TACAN would continue 

to provide navigational service for 

military operations and Distance 

Measuring Equipment (DME) service 

supporting current and future NextGen 

PBN flight procedure requirements. 

The VOR Federal Airways affected by 

the Three Rivers VOR decommissioning 

are V–161, V–163, and V–568. With the 

planned decommissioning of the Three 

Rivers VOR, the remaining groundbased NAVAID coverage in the area is 

insufficient to enable the continuity of 

V–161 and V–568. As such, proposed 

modifications to V–161 and V–568 

would result in the airways being 

shortened. Proposed modifications to 

V–163 would retain the airway with a 

minor alignment change by replacing 

the Three Rivers VORTAC and YENNS 

Fix route points with a new single 

intersection Fix using radials from the 

Corpus Christi, TX, VORTAC and the 

San Antonio, TX, VORTAC. 

To mitigate the loss of the V–161 and 

V–568 airway segments, instrument 

flight rules (IFR) pilots could use V–68 

and the proposed amended V–163 

airway to navigate through and around 

the affected area. IFR pilots with RNAVequipped aircraft could navigate using 

RNAV Route T–499, the proposed new 

RNAV Route T–545, or point-to-point 

using the existing Fixes that would 

remain in place to support continued 

operations though the affected area. 

Additionally, IFR pilots could request 

and receive air traffic control (ATC) 

radar vectors to fly through or around 

the affected area. Visual flight rules 

pilots who elect to navigate via airways 

could also take advantage of the 

proposed amended V–163, the ATC 

services listed previously, as well as the 

listed RNAV routes and point-to-point 

navigation, if properly equipped. 

The proposed establishment of United 

States RNAV Route T–545 would 

mitigate portions of the proposed 

modifications to V–161 and V–568 and 

overlay V–163 to provide positive 

course guidance for RNAV-equipped 

aircraft between the Brownsville, TX, 

area and the San Antonio, TX, area. The 

proposed T–545 would also ensure 

RNAV-equipped aircraft safely 

circumnavigate the Kingsville 4, TX, 

and the Randolph 1B, TX, Military 

Operations Areas (MOA). 

The Proposal 

The FAA is proposing to amend 14 

CFR part 71 by amending VOR Federal 

Airways V–161, V–163, and V–568; and 

establishing United States RNAV Route 

T–545. This action is required due to 

the planned decommissioning of the 

VOR portion of the Three Rivers, TX, 

VORTAC NAVAID. The proposed Air 

Traffic Service (ATS) route actions are 

described below. 

V–161: V–161 currently extends 

between the Three Rivers, TX, VORTAC 

and the Center Point, TX, VORTAC; 

between the Millsap, TX, VORTAC and 

the Tulsa, OK, VORTAC; and between 

the Butler, MO, VORTAC and the 

Gopher, MN, VORTAC. The FAA 

proposes to remove the airway segment 

between the Three Rivers VORTAC and 

the Center Point VORTAC. As amended, 

the airway would be changed to extend 

between the Millsap VORTAC and the 

Tulsa VORTAC, and between the Butler 

VORTAC and the Gopher VORTAC. 

V–163: V–163 currently extends 

between the Matamoros, Mexico, VOR/ 

Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/ 

DME) and the Gooch Springs, TX, 

VORTAC. The airspace within Mexico 

is excluded. The FAA proposes to 

amend the airway by removing the 

Three Rivers, TX, VORTAC and the 

intersection of the Three Rivers 

VORTAC 345° and San Antonio, TX, 

VORTAC 168° radials (YENNS Fix) 

route points and replacing them with a 

new route point at the intersection of 

the Corpus Christi, TX, VORTAC 314° 

True (T)/305° Magnetic (M) and San 

Antonio VORTAC 168°(T)/160°(M) 

radials (SLENA Fix). Additionally, the 

airway width reduction between the 

Brownsville, TX, VORTAC and the 

Corpus Christi VORTAC would be 

removed as it is no longer needed. As 

amended, the airway would continue to 

extend between the Matamoros, Mexico, 

VOR/DME and the Gooch Springs 

VORTAC. The airspace within Mexico 

would continue to be excluded. 

V–568: V–568 currently extends 

between the Corpus Christi, TX, 

VORTAC and the Stonewall, TX, 

VORTAC; and between the Millsap, TX, 

VORTAC and the Wichita Falls, TX, 

VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove 

the airway segment between the Corpus 

Christi VORTAC and the San Antonio, 

TX, VORTAC. As amended, the airway 

would be changed to extend between 

the San Antonio VORTAC and the 

Stonewall VORTAC, and between the 

Millsap VORTAC and the Wichita Falls 

VORTAC. 

T–545: T–545 is a new United States 

RNAV route proposed to be established 

extending between the Brownsville, TX, 

VORTAC and the Gooch Springs, TX, 

VORTAC. The new route would provide 

an RNAV alternative to the proposed V– 

163 airway segment amendment 

between the Corpus Christi, TX, 

VORTAC and the San Antonio, TX, 

VORTAC. Additionally, the route would 

also provide positive RNAV 

navigational guidance for aircraft to 

remain clear of the Kingsville 4, TX, and 

the Randolph 1B, TX, MOAs. 

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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 241 / Monday, December 16, 2024 / Proposed Rules 101547 

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); 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 7400.11J, 

Airspace Designations and Reporting 

Points, dated July 31, 2024, and 

effective September 15, 2024, is 

amended as follows: 

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal 

Airways. 

* * * * * 

V–161 [Amended] 

From Millsap, TX; Bowie, TX; Ardmore, 

OK; Okmulgee, OK; to Tulsa, OK. From 

Butler, MO; Napoleon, MO; Lamoni, IA; Des 

Moines, IA; Mason City, IA; Rochester, MN; 

Farmington, MN; to Gopher, MN. 

* * * * * 

V–163 [Amended] 

From Matamoros, Mexico; Brownsville, 

TX; Corpus Christi, TX; INT Corpus Christi 

314°(T)/305°(M) and San Antonio, TX, 

168°(T)/160°(M) radials; San Antonio; to 

Gooch Springs, TX. The airspace within 

Mexico is excluded. 

* * * * * 

V–568 [Amended] 

From San Antonio, TX; to Stonewall, TX. 

From Millsap, TX; to Wichita Falls, TX. 

* * * * * 

Paragraph 6011 United States Area 

Navigation Routes. 

* * * * * 

T–545 BROWNSVILLE, TX (BRO) TO GOOCH SPRINGS, TX (AGJ) [NEW] 

Brownsville, TX (BRO) VORTAC (Lat. 25°55′26.66′′ N, long. 097°22′30.97′′ W) 

Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) VORTAC (Lat. 27°54′13.56′′ N, long. 097°26′41.57′′ W) 

SLENA, TX FIX (Lat. 28°32′38.31′′ N, long. 098°11′47.89′′ W) 

San Antonio, TX (SAT) VORTAC (Lat. 29°38′38.51′′ N, long. 098°27′40.74′′ W) 

Gooch Springs, TX (AGJ) VORTAC (Lat. 31°11′07.82′′ N, long. 098°08′30.69′′ W) 

* * * * * 

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 

11, 2024. 

Richard Lee Parks, 

Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group. 

[FR Doc. 2024–29514 Filed 12–13–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

47 CFR Part 73 

[DA 24–1198; MB Docket No. 24–667; RM– 

11992; FR ID 266488] 

Radio Broadcasting Services; Ethete, 

Wyoming 

AGENCY: Federal Communications 

Commission. 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: This document requests 

comments on a petition for rule making 

filed by The Business Council of the 

Northern Arapaho, the non-gaming 

Tribal governmental agency of the 

Northern Arapaho Tribe, proposing to 

amend the FM Table of Allotments, by 

allotting Channel 260C0 at Ethete, 

Wyoming, as a Tribal allotment and the 

community’s first local service. A staff 

engineering analysis indicates that 

Channel 260C0 can be allotted to Ethete, 

Wyoming, consistent with the minimum 

distance separation requirements of the 

Commission’s rules, with a site 

restriction of 42 km (26 miles) north of 

the community. The reference 

coordinates are 43–22–25 NL and 108– 

36–28 WL. 

DATES: Comments must be filed on or 

before January 17, 2025, and reply 

comments on or before February 3, 

2025. 

ADDRESSES: Secretary, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. In 

addition to filing comments with the 

FCC, interested parties should serve the 

petitioner and its counsel as follows: 

The Business Council of the Northern 

Arapaho, c/o Anne Goodwin Crump, 

Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C., 1300 

N 17th Street—Eleventh Floor, 

Arlington, Virginia 22209. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rolanda F. Smith, Media Bureau, (202) 

418–2054, Rolanda-Faye.Smith@fcc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a 

synopsis of the Federal 

Communications Commission’s 

(Commission) Notice of Proposed Rule 

Making, MB Docket No. 24–667, 

adopted December 3, 2024, and released 

December 3, 2024. The full text of this 

Commission decision is available online 

at https://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs. The full text 

of this document can also be 

downloaded in Word or Portable 

Document Format (PDF) at https://

www.fcc.gov/edocs. This document does 

not contain proposed information 

collection requirements subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

Public Law 104–13. In addition, 

therefore, it does not contain any 

proposed information collection burden 

‘‘for small business concerns with fewer 

than 25 employees,’’ pursuant to the 

Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 

2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(4). The Commission will 

publish the required summary of this 

notice of proposed rulemaking on 

https://www.fcc.gov/proposedrulemakings, pursuant to The Providing 

Accountability Through Transparency 

Act, see 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4). 

Provisions of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act of l980 do not apply to 

this proceeding. 

Members of the public should note 

that from the time a notice of proposed 

rulemaking is issued until the matter is 

no longer subject to Commission 

consideration or court review, all ex 

parte contacts are prohibited in 

Commission proceedings, such as this 

one, which involve channel allotments. 

See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules 

governing permissible ex parte contacts. 


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