Document ID: FAA-2021-0152-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Northcentral United States
Posted Date: 2021-03-10T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 10, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13668-13670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04873]

[[Page 13668]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0152; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-2]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Amendment of Jet Routes J-107 and J-515, and VOR Federal 
Airway V-181; Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-407; and 
Revocation of the Humboldt, MN, Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point; 
Northcentral United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to amend two Jet Routes and one VHF 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway; establish one low altitude 
RNAV route; and revoke one Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point, in 
the northcentral United States. This action is necessary due to the 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Humboldt, MN, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) which provides navigation guidance to 
portions of the affected Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes. The Humboldt 
VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum 
Operational Network (VOR MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 26, 2021.

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: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0152; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-2 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Rules and Regulations 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 7400.11E at NARA, email: 
fedreg.legal@nara.gov or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jesse Acevedo, 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 would expand the availability of RNAV in the central 
United States and improve the efficient flow of air traffic within the 
NAS by lessening the dependency on ground-based navigation.

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-2021-0152; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-2) 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 https://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-2021-0152; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-2.'' 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://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 Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020 and effective 
September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning decommissioning activities for the VOR portion 
of Humboldt VORTAC with a proposed effected date of December 2, 2021. 
The Humboldt VOR was one of the candidate VORs identified for 
discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON program and listed in the Final 
policy statement notice, ``Provision of Navigation Services for the 
NextGen Transition to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for 
Establishing a VOR MON),'' published in the Federal Register of July 
26, 2016 (81 FR 48694),

[[Page 13669]]

Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. Although the VOR portion of the Humboldt 
VORTAC is planned for decommissioning, the co-located Distance 
Measuring Equipment (DME) and Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) portions 
of the navigational aid are being retained in support of current and 
future RNAV procedures and Department of Defense mission requirements.
    The ATS routes affected by the Humboldt VOR are J-107, J-515, and 
V-181. With the planned decommissioning of the Humboldt VOR, the 
remaining ground-based navigational aid coverage in the area is 
insufficient to enable the continuity of these affected routes. As a 
result, proposed modifications to J-107, J-515, and V-181 would result 
in airway segments being removed. To overcome the loss of route 
segments in the ATS routes, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic may 
use adjacent Jet Routes, J-36, J-140, J-562, and J-89. Pilots equipped 
with RNAV capabilities may also file point to point through the 
affected area using fixes that will remain in place, or receive air 
traffic control radar vectors; the pilots could also use RNAV Route, Q-
140, to navigate through or around the affected area. Visual flight 
rules (VFR) pilots who elect to navigate through the affected area may 
utilize the ATC services previously listed.
    Additionally, the proposed new T-route would provide an enroute 
structure that would overlap the VOR Federal airway V-181 for RNAV 
capable aircraft. This new T-route proposal would also provide route 
options in areas of limited or no radar coverage to pilots whose 
aircraft are RNAV capable. The new airway will provide positive course 
guidance to aircraft navigating around areas of heavy aviation activity 
(i.e., Grand Forks) and Military Special Use Airspace (i.e., Tiger 
South MOA, Devils Lake East MOA, and Restricted Areas R-5403A/B/C/D/E/
F). Furthermore, this proposed new airway would also support the FAA's 
plan to transition the National Airspace System from a ground-based 
surveillance and navigation system, to a satellite-based system.
    Finally, FAA is proposing to remove the Humboldt, MN Domestic Low 
Altitude Reporting point. The reporting point is no longer required by 
air traffic control after the proposed route amendments would be 
implemented.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend two 
Jet Routes; amend one VOR Federal Airway; establish one RNAV route; and 
revoke one reporting point. The proposed ATS route and reporting point 
amendments are described below.
    J-107: J-107 extends between Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC and Sioux 
Narrows, ON, Canada, VOR/DME. The portion within Canada is excluded. 
The proposed change would remove the route segments between Dupree, SD, 
VOR/DME, and Sioux Narrows, ON, Canada, VOR/DME, and remove the 
exclusionary language. The resulting Jet Route would extend between Los 
Angeles, CA, VORTAC and Dupree, SD, VOR/DME.
    J-515: J-515 extends between Fargo, ND, VOR/DME and the 
intersection of the Humboldt, MN, VORTAC 356[deg] radial and US/Canada 
border; and between Whitehorse, YT, Canada and the Barrow, AK, VOR/DME. 
The airspace within Canada is excluded. The proposed change would 
remove the route segment between the Fargo, ND, VOR/DME and the 
intersection of the Humboldt, MN, VORTAC 356[deg] radial and US/Canada 
border. As a result, the Jet Route would extend between Whitehorse, YT, 
Canada, VOR/DME and Barrow, AK, VOR/DME.
    V-181: V-181 extends between Kirksville, MO, VORTAC, and the 
intersection of the Humboldt, MN, VORTAC, 356[deg] radial and United 
States/Canada border. The proposed change would remove the route 
segment between the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME and the intersection of 
the Humboldt, MN, VORTAC, 356[deg] radial and United States/Canada 
border. As a result, the airway would extend between the Kirksville, 
MO, VORTAC, and the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME.
    T-407: T-407 would be a new RNAV route that extends between the 
Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC and the ZOMTA fix, located at the US/Canadian 
border, 8 miles north of Humboldt, MN, VORTAC. This T-route would 
provide enroute routing over the current VOR Federal airway V-181 from 
Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC north to the United States/Canadian border.
    Humboldt: The Humboldt MN Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point 
would be removed.
    All of the navigational aid radials in the Jet Route descriptions 
below are stated in True degrees.
    United States Jet Routes, VOR Federal airways, RNAV T-routes, and 
Domestic Low Altitude Reporting points are published in paragraphs 
2004, 2010(a), 6011, and 7001, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11E, 
dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, which are 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The airways listed in this 
document would be subsequently updated in the next edition of this 
Order.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 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 7400.11E, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and 
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

[[Page 13670]]

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-107 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; INT Los Angeles 083[deg] and Hector, CA, 
226[deg] radials; Hector; Boulder City, NV; Milford, UT; Rock 
Springs, WY; Muddy Mountain, WY; to Dupree, SD.
* * * * *

J-515 [Amended]

    From Whitehorse, YT, Canada; Northway, AK; Fairbanks, AK; 
Bettles, AK; to Barrow, AK. The airspace within Canada is excluded.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6010(a) VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-181 [Amended]

    From Kirksville, MO; Lamoni, IA; Omaha, IA; Norfolk, NE; 
Yankton, SD; Sioux Falls, SD; Watertown, SD; 34 miles, 24 miles, 34 
MSL, Fargo, ND; to Grand Forks, ND.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-407 Sioux Falls, SD (FSD) to ZOMTA, ND [New]
 
Sioux Falls, SD (FSD)                           VORTAC                         (Lat. 43[deg]38'58.14'' N, long. 096[deg]46'52.02'' W)
FFORT, SD                                       WP                             (Lat. 44[deg]58'47.45'' N, long. 097[deg]08'30.36'' W)
Fargo, ND (FAR)                                 VOR/DME                        (Lat. 46[deg]45'12.01'' N, long. 096[deg]51'04.75'' W)
Grand Forks, ND (GFK)                           VOR/DME                        (Lat. 47[deg]57'17.40'' N, long. 097[deg]11'07.33'' W)
WUBED, MN                                       FIX                            (Lat. 48[deg]43'30.50'' N, long. 097[deg]07'40.81'' W)
ZOMTA, ND                                       FIX                            (Lat. 49[deg]00'00.00'' N, long. 097[deg]07'54.80'' W)
 

Paragraph 7001 Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points.

* * * * *

Humboldt, MN [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2021.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-04873 Filed 3-9-21; 8:45 am]
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