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###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Aviation Administration

          - 14 CFR Part 71
          - [Docket No. FAA-2017-0932; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-9]

# AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

# ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

# SUMMARY:

This action proposes to modify VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-20, V-31, V-33, V-308, and V-433; and remove V-379; in the vicinity of Nottingham, MD. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Nottingham, MD, VORTAC navigation aid, which provides navigation guidance for portions of the above routes. The Nottingham VORTAC is being decommissioned as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

# DATES:

Comments must be received on or before November 30, 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-2017-0932 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-9 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 7400.11B, 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 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to                         *http://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.*

FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 15.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Gallant, Airspace Policy Group, Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

      ( print page 48012)    

## 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 VOR Federal airway route structure in the eastern United States to maintain the efficient flow of air traffic.

## 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-2017-0932 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-9) 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-2017-0932 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-9.” 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. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

## Availability of NPRM

                    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 Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 30337.                

## Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

                    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017 and effective September 15, 2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed in the                     **ADDRESSES**                     section of this proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.11B lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.                

## The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify the descriptions of VOR Federal airways V-20, V-31, V-33, V-308, and V-433; and to remove V-379; in the Vicinity of Nottingham, MD, due to the planned decommissioning of the Nottingham, MD, VORTAC. The proposed route changes are described below.

*V-20:*                     V-20 currently extends between McAllen, TX, and Nottingham, MD. The airway segments between Richmond, VA, and Nottingham, MD, would be removed. The amended route would, therefore, extend between McAllen, TX, and Richmond, VA.                

*V-31:*                     V-31 currently extends between Patuxent River, MD, and Buffalo, NY. This proposal would remove the airway segment between Patuxent River, MD, and Nottingham, MD. The amended route would extend between Baltimore, MD, and Buffalo, NY.                

*V-33:*                     V-33 currently extends between Harcum, VA, and Buffalo, NY. This action proposes to remove the segments between Harcum, VA, and Baltimore, MD. The amended route would extend between Baltimore, MD, and Buffalo, NY.                

*V-308:*                     V-308 currently extends between Nottingham, MD, and Norwich, CT. This action would remove the route segment between Nottingham, MD, and Waterloo, DE. The amended route would extend between Waterloo, DE, and Norwich, CT.                

*V-379:*                     V-379 currently extends between Nottingham, MD, and Smyrna, DE. V-379 would be removed in its entirety.                

*V-433*: V-433 currently extends between Nottingham, MD, and Syracuse, NY. The segments between Nottingham, MD, and Dupont, DE, would be removed. The amended route would extend between Dupont, DE, and Syracuse, NY.                

Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airways listed in this document would 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:

      ( print page 48013)    

# 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 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.

§ 71.1 

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017 and effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

### Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

## V-20 [Amended]

From McAllen, TX, via INT McAllen 038° and Corpus Christi, TX, 178° radials; 10 miles 8 miles wide, 37 miles 7 miles wide (3 miles east and 4 miles west of centerline), Corpus Christi; INT Corpus Christi 054° and Palacios, TX, 226° radials; Palacios; Hobby, TX; Beaumont, TX; Lake Charles, LA; Lafayette, LA; Reserve, LA; INT Reserve 084° and Gulfport, MS, 247° radials; Gulfport; Semmes, AL; INT Semmes 048° and Monroeville, AL, 231° radials; Monroeville; Montgomery, AL; Tuskegee, AL; Columbus, GA; INT Columbus 068° and Athens, GA, 195° radials; Athens; Electric City, SC; Sugarloaf Mountain, NC; Barretts Mountain, NC; South Boston, VA; to Richmond, VA. The airspace on the main airway above 14,000 feet MSL from McAllen to 49 miles northeast and the airspace within Mexico is excluded.

## V-31 [Amended]

From Baltimore, MD; INT Baltimore 004° and Harrisburg, PA, 147° radials; Harrisburg; Selinsgrove, PA; Williamsport, PA; Elmira, NY; INT Elmira 002° and Rochester, NY, 120° radials; Rochester; to INT Rochester 279° and Buffalo, NY 023° radials.

## V-33 [Amended]

From Baltimore, MD; INT Baltimore 004° and Harrisburg, PA, 147° radials; Harrisburg; Philipsburg, PA; Keating, PA; Bradford, PA; Buffalo, NY.

## V-308 [Amended]

From Waterloo, DE; Sea Isle; NJ; INT Sea Isle 050° and Hampton, NY, 223° radials; Hampton; Groton, CT; to Norwich, CT. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL that lies outside the United States and the airspace below 3,000 feet MSL between Kennedy, NY, 087° and 141° radials is excluded.

## V-379 [Removed]

## V-433 [Amended]

From Dupont, DE; Yardley, PA; INT Yardley 047° and Kennedy, NY, 253° radials; INT Kennedy 253° and LaGuardia, NY, 213° radials; LaGuardia; Bridgeport, CT; INT Bridgeport 324° and Pawling, NY, 160° radials; Pawling; INT Pawling 304° and Rockdale, NY, 116° radials; Rockdale; INT Rockdale 325° and Syracuse, NY, 100° radials; to Syracuse.

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2017.

Gemechu Gelgelu,

Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.

[FR Doc. 2017-22235 Filed 10-13-17; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P