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###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Aviation Administration

          - 14 CFR Part 71
          - [Docket No. FAA-2024-2738Airspace Docket No. 24-AAL-99]
          - RIN 2120-AA66

# AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

# ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

# SUMMARY:

This action proposes to amend Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-444 and V-504. The FAA is proposing this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Evansville, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB).

# DATES:

Comments must be received on or before February 13, 2025.

# ADDRESSES:

Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-2738and Airspace Docket No. 24-AAL-99 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:

Steven Roff, 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 amend the airway structure as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System.

## 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 Western Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.                

## 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 proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and                           ( print page 106376)                        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

In 2003, Congress enacted the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Pub L., 108-176), which established a joint planning and development office in the FAA to manage the work related to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Today, NextGen is an ongoing FAA-led modernization of the nation's air transportation system to make flying safer, more efficient, and more predictable.

In support of NextGen, this proposal is part of an ongoing, large, and comprehensive airway modernization project in the state of Alaska. Part of this project is to transition the Alaskan en route navigation structure away from dependency on NDBs and move to develop and improve the Area Navigation (RNAV) route structure. The FAA is planning to decommission the Evansville, AK, NDB. As a result, the segment of Alaskan Federal Airway V-444 between the Evansville NDB and the Browerville, AK, VOR will become unusable. The mitigation to the loss of this segment of V-444 is RNAV route T-232. T-232 directly overlays the segment of V-444 proposed for removal. Additionally, the segment of Alaskan Federal Airway V-504 between the Evansville NDB and the Deadhorse, AK, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) will become unusable. The mitigation to the loss of this segment of V-504 is RNAV route T-240. T-240 directly overlays the segment of V-504 proposed for removal.

## The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska. The FAA is proposing these actions due to the pending decommissioning of the Evansville, AK, NDB.

*V-444:*                     V-444 in Alaska currently extends between the Barrow, AK, VOR/DME and the intersection of the Northway, AK, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 120° (M), 138° (T), and the Gulkana, AK, VOR/DME 062° (M), 079° (T) radials. As amended, V-444 would extend between the Bettles, AK, VOR/DME and the intersection of the Northway, AK, VORTAC 120° (M), 138° (T), and the Gulkana, AK, VOR/DME 062° (M), 079° (T) radials.                

*V-504:*                     V-504 currently extends between the Nenana, AK, VORTAC and the Deadhorse, AK, VOR/DME. As amended, V-504 would extend between the Neana VORTAC and the Bettles, AK, VOR/DME.                

## 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); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

§ 71.1

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(b) Alaskan VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

## V-444 [Amended]

From Bettles, AK; Fairbanks, AK; Big Delta, AK; Northway, AK; intersection of the Northway 120° (M), 138° (T), and Gulkana 062° (M), 079°(T) radials.

* * * * *

## V-504 [Amended]

From Nenana, AK; to Bettles, AK.

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 20, 2024.

Richard Lee Parks,

Manager (A), Airspace Rules and Regulations.

[FR Doc. 2024-31104 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P