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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 24 (Thursday, February 6, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9071-9073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02281]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2025-0174; Airspace Docket No. 25-ASW-1]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of Jet Route J-96 in the Vicinity of Cimarron, NM

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove a segment of Jet Route J-96 
between the Cimarron, NM (CIM), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional 
Range (VOR)/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Garden City, KS 
(GCK), VORTAC navigational aids (NAVAID). The FAA is proposing this 
action due to the Cimarron VORTAC

[[Page 9072]]

radials between 045[deg] and 055[deg], stated in degrees magnetic (M) 
north, that make up the route segment east of Cimarron, NM, being 
unusable since 2020.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 24, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2025-0174 and 
Airspace Docket No. 25-ASW-1 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 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.

Incorporation by Reference

    Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 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 Cimarron, NM, VORTAC radials between 045[deg](M) and 
055[deg](M), that support the route segment between the Cimarron and 
Garden City, KS, VORTACs, have been unusable since 2020. Water 
intrusion has created issues with the underground equipment and 
structures supporting the Cimarron VORTAC, resulting in the outage of 
radials that emanate from the VORTAC. A Flight Data Center (FDC) Notice 
to Air Missions (NOTAM) has been published since 2020 identifying the 
unusable Cimarron VORTAC radials impacting the J-96 segment between the 
Cimarron VORTAC and Garden City VORTAC.
    The FAA has attempted to restore the unusable Cimarron VORTAC 
radials, as recent as August 2024, with no success. The physical 
location of the equipment is challenging for the FAA technicians 
conducting repairs to access because there are large rocks in proximity 
to the equipment that makes site excavation difficult. Further, the FAA 
estimated the cost to ``dopplerize'' the VOR to sufficiently restore 
the unusable radials at three million dollars. Since most aircraft 
operating in the Class A airspace altitude stratum are Area Navigation 
(RNAV) equipped and the J-96 route segment between the Cimarron and 
Garden City VORTACs has been unusable since 2020, the FAA believes 
removing the affected route segment would not adversely impact users.
    As a result of the proposed amendment to J-96, the jet route would 
have a gap between the Cimarron and Garden City VORTACs. To address the

[[Page 9073]]

gap between the Cimarron and Garden City VORTACs, instrument flight 
rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent Jet Routes J-18 and J-110 or 
request air traffic control radar vectors to fly around or through the 
affected area. Additionally, IFR pilots with RNAV-equipped aircraft 
could also navigate point-to-point using the existing fixes that will 
remain in place to support continued operations through the affected 
area.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by amending Jet 
Route J-96 due to the Cimarron VORTAC radials between 045[deg](M) and 
055[deg](M), that support the route segment between the Cimarron, NM, 
and Garden City, KS, VORTACs being unusable since 2020. The proposed 
jet route action is described below.
    J-96: J-96 currently extends between the Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC 
and the Joliet, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME). The FAA 
proposes to remove the airway segment between the Cimarron, NM, VORTAC 
and the Garden City, KS, VORTAC. As amended, the airway would be 
changed to extend between the Los Angeles VORTAC and the Cimarron 
VORTAC and between the Garden City VORTAC and the Joliet VOR/DME.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the J-96 airway description in the 
regulatory text of this notice of proposed rulemaking are unchanged and 
stated in degrees True north.

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, would 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

0
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.

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 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-96 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; INT Paradise 093[deg] and 
Parker, CA, 261[deg] radials; Parker; Drake, AZ; Gallup, NM; to 
Cimarron, NM. From Garden City, KS; Salina, KS; Kirksville, MO; 
Peoria, IL; to Joliet, IL.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 31, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-02281 Filed 2-5-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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