Document ID: FAA-2021-0324-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Vicinity of Erie, PA
Posted Date: 2022-01-14T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2324-2325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00288]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0324; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-9]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of V-37 and V-270; Removal of V-43 in the Vicinity of 
Erie, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 
airways V-37 and V-270, and removes VOR Federal airway V-43, in the 
vicinity of Erie, Pennsylvania. The airway amendments are necessary due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Erie, PA, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC), which provides navigational guidance 
for these airways. The Erie VOR is being decommissioned as part of the 
FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, March 24, 2022. 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: FAA Order JO 7400.11F, 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. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is also available for 
inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of FAA Order JO 7400.11F at NARA, 
email: [email protected] 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 modifies the airway structure 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-2021-0324, in the Federal Register (86 FR 24794, May 10, 2021) 
amending V-37 and V-270, and removing V-43. The amendment and removal 
actions are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Erie, 
PA, VOR, as part of the VOR MON program. The FAA invited interested 
parties to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal. No comments were received.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The airways listed 
in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 
15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 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-37 and V-270, and removing VOR Federal airway V-43, in the vicinity 
of Erie, PA. This action is required due to the planned decommissioning 
of the VOR portion of the Erie, PA, VORTAC.
    The VOR Federal airway changes are described below.
    V-37: V-37 extends between the Craig, FL, VORTAC and the Erie, PA 
VORTAC. This action removes the airway segment between the Ellwood 
City, PA, VOR/DME and the Erie VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway remain as charted. The resulting airway extends between 
the Craig VORTAC and the Ellwood City VOR/DME.
    V-270: V-270 extends between the Erie, PA, VORTAC and the 
Jamestown, NY, VOR/DME; and between the Elmira, NY, VOR/DME and the 
Boston, MA, VOR/DME. This action removes the airway segment between the 
Erie VORTAC and the Jamestown VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway remain as charted. The resulting airway extends between 
the Elmira VOR/DME and the Boston VOR/DME.
    V-43: V-43 extends between the Youngstown, OH, VORTAC and the Erie, 
PA, VORTAC. This action removes the airway in its entirety.
    All navigational aid radials in the VOR Federal airway description 
listed below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.

[[Page 2325]]

    FAA Order JO 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 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 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-37 and V-270, and removing VOR Federal airway V-43, due to 
the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Erie, PA, VORTAC 
navigational aid, 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). 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. Accordingly, 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 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-37 [Amended]

    From Craig, FL; Brunswick, GA; INT Brunswick 014[deg] and 
Savannah, GA, 177[deg] radials; Savannah; Allendale, SC; Columbia, 
SC; Charlotte, NC; Pulaski, VA; Elkins, WV; Clarksburg, WV; INT 
Clarksburg 359[deg] and Ellwood City, PA, 185[deg] radials; to 
Ellwood City.
* * * * *

V-43 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-270 [Amended]

    From Elmira, NY; Binghamton, NY; DeLancey, NY; Chester, MA; INT 
Chester 091[deg] and Boston, MA, 262[deg] radials; to Boston.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2022.
Michael R. Beckles,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2022-00288 Filed 1-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P