Document ID: FAA-2023-0456-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Southwest United States
Posted Date: 2023-09-22T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65314-65315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20450]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0456; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASW-3]
RIN 2120-AA66

Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-469 and T-472; 
Southwest United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Area Navigation (RNAV) routes T-469 
and T-472 in the southwest United States. The new RNAV routes expand 
the availability of the enroute structure and provide additional RNAV 
routing within the National Airspace System (NAS) in support of 
transitioning it from ground-based to satellite-based navigation.

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 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 enroute structure as necessary to preserve 
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace 
System (NAS).

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2023-0456 in the Federal Register (88 FR 13742; March 6, 2023), 
proposing to establish RNAV routes T-469 and T-472 in the southwest 
United States to expand the availability of the enroute structure and 
provide additional RNAV routing within the NAS. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal. No comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    United States Area Navigation Routes (T-routes) are published in 
paragraph 6011 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 establishing RNAV routes T-469 
and T-472. The new RNAV routes are described below.
    T-469: T-469 is established and extends between the TASEY, TX, 
waypoint (WP) (located 60 feet west of the Paris, TX, Very High 
Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring 
Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID)) and the Rich Mountain, 
OK, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) NAVAID. This new T-route 
provides RNAV routing along the same route of flight as VOR Federal 
airway V-315 and

[[Page 65315]]

enhances flight safety and NAS efficiency for aircraft transiting 
enroute along the eastern boundary of the Rivers Military Operations 
Area (MOA).
    T-472: T-472 is established and extends between the TASEY, TX, WP 
(located 60 feet west of the Paris, TX, VOR/DME NAVAID) and the Hot 
Springs, AR, VOR/DME NAVAID. This new T-route provides RNAV routing 
along the same route of flight as VOR Federal airway V-124 and enhances 
flight safety and NAS efficiency for aircraft transiting enroute along 
the southern boundary of the Hog B MOA.

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 
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this 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

    The FAA has determined that this action of establishing RNAV routes 
T-469 and T-472 in the southwest United States to provide additional 
RNAV routing within the NAS 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; 
Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and paragraph 5-
6.5i, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 
review the establishment of new or revised air traffic control 
procedures conducted at 3,000 feet or more above ground level (AGL); 
procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not cause traffic to 
be routinely routed over noise sensitive areas; modifications to 
currently approved procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do 
not significantly increase noise over noise sensitive areas; and 
increases in minimum altitudes and landing minima. 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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-469 TASEY, TX to Rich Mountain, OK (PGO) [New]
 
TASEY, TX                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]32'32.56`` N, long. 095[deg]26'54.55`` W)
Rich Mountain, OK (PGO)                         VORTAC                         (Lat. 34[deg]40'49.67`` N, long. 094[deg]36'32.41`` W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
T-472 TASEY, TX to Hot Springs, AR (HOT) [New]
 
TASEY, TX                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]32'32.56'' N, long. 095[deg]26'54.55'' W)
Hot Springs, AR (HOT)                           VOR/DME                        (Lat. 34[deg]28'42.94'' N, long. 093[deg]05'26.20'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-20450 Filed 9-21-23; 8:45 am]
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