[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41182-41183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18325]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0344; Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-11]


Proposed Modification of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes; 
Western United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify VOR Federal Airways V-113 and 
V-244 which caused navigational aid gaps due to the decommissioning of 
Manteca and Maxwell VORs.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 16, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 1 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2017-0344 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-11 at the beginning of 
your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov. You may review the public docket containing 
the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in 
person in the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1 
(800) 647-5527), is on the ground floor of the building at the above 
address.
    FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11A at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Ready, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, 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 route structure as necessary to preserve 
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace 
System (NAS).

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. 
Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. FAA-
2017-0344 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-11) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2017-0344, and Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-11.'' 
The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date will be considered before taking action on the proposed 
rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment 
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://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 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the office of the Western Service Center, Operations

[[Page 41183]]

Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., 
Renton, WA 98057.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11A, airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and effective 
September 15, 2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11A lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    On January 5, 2017, the FAA published in the Federal Register an 
NPRM (82 FR 1279), Docket No. FAA-2016-9264, proposing to modify and 
establish several airways due to the decommissioning of Manteca and 
Maxwell VOR facilities. Among those airways, the FAA proposed 
modifications to V-113 and V-244.
    In the final rule, published on April 20, 2017, the FAA decided to 
delay the proposed changes to V-244 because more coordination was 
required. (82 FR 18551), Docket No. FAA-2016-9264. The FAA finalized V-
113 as proposed in the NPRM with a gap in the route structure between 
Panoche, California and Linden, California. Prior to the effective date 
of June 22, 2017, and without notification to the public, the FAA 
inadvertently published navigational charts that reflected the gap in 
V-113 had been filled. Because this portion of the airway reflected on 
the chart was not properly established by rule, the FAA issued an out-
of-service NOTAM for this segment until a rulemaking action could be 
completed.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify V-113 and V-244. The proposed 
route changes are outlined below.
    V-244: The FAA proposes to relocate the segment of the route from 
Oakland, CA by rerouting the airway approximately 10 nautical miles 
north of the previous airway until tied back into the previous route at 
Coaldale, NV. New legal description: From Oakland, CA; INT Oakland 
077[deg](T) 060[deg](M) and Linden, CA, 246[deg](T) 229[deg](M) 
radials; Linden; 30 miles, 153 MSL, INT Linden 094[deg](T) 077[deg](M) 
and Hangtown, CA, 157[deg](T) 140[deg](M) radials; 58 miles, 153 MSL, 
INT Coaldale, CA, 267[deg](T) 250[deg](M) and Friant, CA, 022[deg](T) 
005[deg](M) radials; 23 miles, 153 MSL, INT Coaldale 267[deg](T) 
250[deg](M) and Bishop, CA, 337[deg](T) 322[deg](M) radials; 43 miles, 
125 MSL, Coaldale, NV. The remaining portion of the route (from 
Coaldale, NV to Salina, KS) would be unchanged.
    V-113: The FAA proposes fill the gap between Panoche, CA to Linden, 
CA by revising the legal description as follows. From Morro Bay, CA; 
Paso Robles, CA; Priest, CA; Panoche, CA; INT Modesto 208[deg](T) 
191[deg](M) and El Nido 277[deg](T) 262[deg](M) radials; Modesto, CA; 
Linden, CA; NT Linden 046[deg](T) 029[deg](M) and Mustang, NV, 
208[deg](T) 192[deg](M) radials; Mustang; 42 miles, 24 miles, 115 MSL, 
95 MSL, Sod House, NV; 67 miles, 95 MSL, 85 MSL, Rome, OR; 61 miles, 85 
MSL, Boise, ID; Salmon, ID; Coppertown, MT; Helena, MT; to Lewistown, 
MT.
    VOR federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
7400.11A dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 2016, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR federal airways 
listed in this document will be subsequently published in the Order.

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 
Department of Transportation (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

0
1. The authority citation for 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 
7400.11A, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 
2016 and effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010 Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

V-113 (Amended)

    From Morro Bay, CA; Paso Robles, CA; Priest, CA; Panoche, CA; 
INT Modesto 208[deg](T) 191[deg](M) and El Nido 277[deg](T) 
262[deg](M) radials; Modesto, CA; Linden, CA; INT Linden 046[deg](T) 
029[deg](M) and Mustang, NV, 208[deg](T) 192[deg](M) radials; 
Mustang; 42 miles, 24 miles, 115 MSL, 95 MSL, Sod House, NV; 67 
miles, 95 MSL, 85 MSL, Rome, OR; 61 miles, 85 MSL, Boise, ID; 
Salmon, ID; Coppertown, MT; Helena, MT; to Lewistown, MT.
* * * * *

V-244 (Amended)

    From Oakland, CA; INT Oakland 077[deg](T) 060[deg](M) and 
Linden, CA, 246[deg](T) 229[deg](M) radials; Linden; 30 miles, 153 
MSL, INT Linden 094[deg](T) 077[deg](M) and Hangtown, CA, 
157[deg](T) 140[deg](M) radials; 58 miles, 153 MSL, INT Coaldale, 
CA, 267[deg](T) 250[deg](M) and Friant, CA, 022[deg](T) 005[deg](M) 
radials; 23 miles, 153 MSL, INT Coaldale 267[deg](T) 250[deg](M) and 
Bishop, CA, 337[deg](T) 322[deg](M) radials; 43 miles, 125 MSL, 
Coaldale, NV; Tonopah, NV; 40 miles, 115 MSL, Wilson Creek, NV; 28 
miles, 115 MSL, Milford, UT; Hanksville, UT; 63 miles, 13 miles, 140 
MSL, 36 miles, 115 MSL, Montrose, CO; Blue Mesa, CO; 33 miles, 122 
MSL, 27 miles, 155 MSL, Pueblo, CO; 18 miles, 48 miles, 60 MSL, 
Lamar, CO; 20 miles, 116 miles, 65 MSL, Hays, KS; to Salina, KS. The 
airspace within R-2531A and R-2531B is excluded.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 22, 2017.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2017-18325 Filed 8-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P