Document ID: FAA-2014-0104-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Amendment and Revocation of Jet Routes: Northeast United States
Posted Date: 2014-03-12T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13948-13949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05356]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0104; Airspace Docket No. 13-AEA-4]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Amendment and Revocation of Jet Routes; Northeast United 
States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify segments of jet routes J-64 and 
J-80, and remove jet route J-77, in the northeastern United States. The 
FAA is proposing this action because segments of these routes are 
receiving minimal to no usage due to other more efficient routes in the 
area. This action would eliminate unneeded route segments, reduce chart 
clutter and improve chart readability.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 28, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2014-
0104 and Airspace Docket No. 13-AEA-4 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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-2014-0104 and Airspace Docket No. 13-AEA-4) 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-2014-0104 and Airspace Docket No. 13-AEA-4.'' 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 NPRM's

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded 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 (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.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

Background

    On October 20, 2011, the FAA amended part of the high altitude 
route structure in the northeastern United States to expedite the 
routing of westbound traffic departing the New York Metropolitan area 
and to realign high altitude overflight traffic to help reduce delays 
within New York terminal airspace (76 FR 57902). The new and amended 
routes from that action have enhanced air traffic flows in the area and 
have become the routes of primary use. The FAA determined that jet 
route J-77, and portions of jet routes J-64 and J-80, are receiving 
minimal usage and have been made essentially redundant by other, more 
efficient route options available in that area.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to eliminate portions of jet routes J-64 
and J-80 and to remove jet route J-77 in the northeastern United 
States. The proposed changes would eliminate segments that no longer 
benefit the efficiency of the National Airspace System, reduce chart 
clutter and improve readability of the affected Enroute High Altitude 
charts. The proposed route changes are outlined below.
    J-64: J-64, currently extending between Los Angeles, CA, and 
Robbinsville, NJ, would terminate at the intersection of the Ravine, 
PA, 102[deg](T)/113[deg](M) radial and the Lancaster, PA, 044[deg](T)/
053[deg](M) radial. This new termination point would be at the SARAA 
fix, approximately 65 nautical miles northwest of the current end point 
Robbinsville, NJ.
    J-77: J-77, currently extending between Boston, MA, and 
Westminster, MD, would be removed. Other routes are available for 
navigation between the Baltimore, MD, area and Boston, MA.
    J-80: J-80, currently extending between Oakland, CA, and Bangor, 
ME, would terminate at Bellaire, OH, eliminating the segments between 
Bellaire and Bangor, ME. RNAV route Q-480 and jet route J-581 provide 
alternative routing between Bellaire, OH, and Bangor, ME.
    Where new navigation aid radials are cited in a proposed route 
description, below, both True and Magnetic degrees are listed. 
Otherwise, only True degrees are stated.
    Jet routes are published in paragraph 2004 of FAA Order 7400.9X 
dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 2013, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The jet routes

[[Page 13949]]

in this document would be subsequently published in the Order.
    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. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation: (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.
    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 in the northeastern United States.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``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(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 7400.9X, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 7, 2013 and 
effective September 15, 2013, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004--Jet Routes

* * * * *

J-64 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA, via INT Los Angeles 083[deg] and Hector, 
CA, 226[deg] radials; Hector; Peach Springs, AZ; Tuba City, AZ; 
Rattlesnake, NM; Pueblo, CO; Hill City, KS; Pawnee City, NE; Lamoni, 
IA; Bradford, IL; via the INT of the Bradford 089[deg] and the Fort 
Wayne, IN, 280[deg] radials; Fort Wayne; Ellwood City, PA; Ravine, 
PA; to INT Ravine 102[deg](T)/113[deg](M) and Lancaster, PA, 
044[deg](T)/053[deg](M) radials.

J-77 [Removed]

J-80 [Amended]

    From Oakland, CA; Manteca, CA; Coaldale, NV; Wilson Creek, NV; 
Milford, UT; Grand Junction, CO; Red Table, CO; Falcon, CO; 
Goodland, KS; Hill City, KS; Kansas City, MO; Spinner, IL; 
Brickyard, IN; to Bellaire, OH.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 6, 2014.
Donna Warren,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2014-05356 Filed 3-11-14; 8:45 am]
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