Document ID: FAA-2023-0881-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Vicinity of St. Thomas, PA
Posted Date: 2023-09-22T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65315-65317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20446]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0881; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-34]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-469 and V-501, and Revocation 
of VOR Federal Airway V-474 in the Vicinity of St. Thomas, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal airways V-469 and V-501, and revokes V-474. The FAA is 
taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the St. Thomas, PA (THS), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation 
(VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The St. Thomas VOR is being 
decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network 
(MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, November 30, 2023. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual

[[Page 65316]]

revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and publication of conforming 
amendments.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H, 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, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, 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 ATS route structure as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National 
Airspace System.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2023-0881 in the Federal Register (88 FR 21142; April 10, 2023), 
proposing to amend VOR Federal airways V-469 and V-501, and revoke VOR 
Federal airway V-474 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC NAVAID. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal. No comments were received.

Differences From the NPRM

    Subsequent to the NPRM, the FAA determined that the proposed VOR 
Federal airway V-501 amendment to replace the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC 
airway point with the VINSE Fix did not accurately overlay the existing 
airway between the Hagerstown, MD, VOR and the Philipsburg, PA, VORTAC 
airway points. To overcome the unintended difference to the V-501 
routing, the FAA is establishing the GGRIF Fix located approximately 80 
feet south of the St. Thomas VORTAC at the intersection of the 
Harrisburg, PA, VORTAC 241[deg] True (T)/251[deg] Magnetic (M) and 
Philipsburg, PA, VORTAC 178[deg](T)/188[deg](M) radials. Replacing the 
St. Thomas VORTAC airway point in the V-501 description with the GGRIF 
Fix instead of the proposed VINSE Fix will retain the existing airway 
as it is currently charted.
    This action amends the V-501 description by changing the VINSE Fix 
proposed to replace the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC airway point in the NPRM 
to the GGRIF Fix.

Incorporation by Reference

    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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 amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 
7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. FAA 
Order JO 7400.11H is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this document. These amendments will be published in the 
next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending VOR Federal airways 
V-469 and V-501, and revoking V-474 due to the planned decommissioning 
of the VOR portion of the St. Thomas, PA, VORTAC. The airway actions 
are described below.
    V-469: Prior to this final rule, V-469 extended between the 
Danville, VA, VORTAC and the Woodstown, NJ, VORTAC. The airway segment 
between the Johnstown, PA, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) 
and the Harrisburg, PA, VORTAC is removed. As amended, the airway now 
extends between the Danville VORTAC and the Johnstown VOR/DME and 
between the Harrisburg VORTAC and the Woodstown VORTAC.
    V-474: Prior to this final rule, V-474 extended between the St. 
Thomas, PA, VORTAC and the Modena, PA, VORTAC. The airway is removed in 
its entirety.
    V-501: Prior to this final rule, V-501 extended between the 
Martinsburg, WV, VORTAC and the Philipsburg, PA, VORTAC. The St. 
Thomas, PA, VORTAC airway point is replaced by the GGRIF Fix being 
established at the intersection of the Harrisburg, PA, VORTAC 
241[deg](T)/251[deg](M) and Philipsburg, PA, VORTAC 178[deg](T)/
188[deg](M) radials. As amended, the airway is retained as charted and 
continues to extend between the Martinsburg VORTAC and the Philipsburg 
VORTAC.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the airway descriptions in the 
amendments to part 71 are stated in degrees True north.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this 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 
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified 
that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action of amending VOR Federal 
airways V-469 and V-501, and revoking VOR Federal airway V-474, due to 
the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the St. Thomas, PA, 
VORTAC NAVAID, qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing 
regulations at 40 CFR part 1500, and in accordance with FAA Order 
1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-
6.5a, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 
review rulemaking actions that designate or modify classes of airspace 
areas, airways, routes, and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, 
Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas;

[[Page 65317]]

Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and paragraph 5-
6.5k, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 
review publication of existing air traffic control procedures that do 
not essentially change existing tracks, create new tracks, change 
altitude, or change concentration of aircraft on these tracks. As such, 
this action is not expected to result in any potentially significant 
environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, paragraph 
5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, the FAA has reviewed this 
action for factors and circumstances in which a normally categorically 
excluded action may have a significant environmental impact requiring 
further analysis. The FAA has determined that no extraordinary 
circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental 
assessment or environmental impact study.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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), 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 JO 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-469 [Amended]

    From Danville, VA; Lynchburg, VA; INT Lynchburg 347[deg] and 
Elkins, WV, 142[deg] radials; Elkins; Morgantown, WV; INT Morgantown 
010[deg] and Johnstown, PA, 260[deg] radials; to Johnstown. From 
Harrisburg, PA; Dupont, DE; to Woodstown, NJ.
* * * * *

V-474 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-501 [Amended]

    From Martinsburg, WV; Hagerstown, MD; INT Harrisburg, PA, 
241[deg] and Philipsburg, PA, 178[deg] radials; to Philipsburg.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-20446 Filed 9-21-23; 8:45 am]
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