Document ID: FAA-2021-0676-0003
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Western United States
Posted Date: 2022-04-28T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25139-25140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09067]

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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2022 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 25139]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0676; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-33]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-15; 
Western United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route 
Q-15 in order to safely segregate overflight, arrival and departure 
traffic, and military operations in the high altitude airspace between 
Las Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, July 14, 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.

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 air traffic service route structure in the 
north central United States to maintain the efficient flow of air 
traffic.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2021-0676 in the Federal Register (86 FR 48345; August 30, 2021), 
amending RNAV route Q-15 in high altitude airspace between Las Vegas, 
NV and Phoenix, AZ. Interested parties were invited to participate in 
this rulemaking effort by submitting comments on the proposal. There 
was one comment received that was not germane to the action and will 
not be summarized here.

Differences From the NPRM

    In the NPRM published in the Federal Register (86 FR 48345; August 
30, 2021), the proposal section specified that RNAV routes are 
published in paragraph 6009 of FAA Order 7400.11E dated July 21, 2020 
and effective September 15, 2020. The paragraph referenced is incorrect 
and should reference paragraph 2006. This rule corrects that error.
    United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 
2006 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 United States Area Navigation Route listed in this document will be 
published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

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 RNAV route Q-15 in 
order to safely segregate overflight, arrival and departure traffic, 
and military operations in the high altitude airspace between Las 
Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ.
    RNAV route Q-15 currently terminates at the CHILY, AZ, waypoint 
(WP), just west of Prescott Regional Airport (PRC), Prescott, AZ. 
Extending Q-15 from the CHILY, AZ, WP to the NABOB, AZ, Fix is to 
provide air traffic controllers, through automation and industry 
outreach, one direction airways in that area for Q-13 and Q-15 between 
WPs where both would intersect between the NABOB, AZ, Fix and the 
HOUZZ, NV, WP. This allows traffic traveling southeast from the HOUZZ, 
NV, WP to the NABOB, AZ, Fix to utilize RNAV route Q-13 and traffic 
traveling northwest to utilize RNAV route Q-15, allowing for a smoother 
traffic flow in that area.
    Q-15: For route Q-15 the FAA is adding an extension to the route 
from the NABOB, AZ, Fix to the CHILY, AZ, WP. The rest of the route 
remains unchanged.
    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

[[Page 25140]]

number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this airspace action of amending RNAV 
route Q-15 between Las Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ 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.

Lists 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 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-15 NABOR, AZ to LOMIA, NV [Amended]
 
NABOB, AZ                     Fix                 (Lat. 34[deg]19'40.60'' N, long. 111[deg]18'53.90'' W)
CHILY, AZ                     WP                  (Lat. 34[deg]42'48.61'' N, long. 112[deg]45'42.27'' W)
DOVEE, NV                     WP                  (Lat. 35[deg]26'51.07'' N, long. 114[deg]48'00.94'' W)
SOTOO, NV                     WP                  (Lat. 36[deg]17'22.55'' N, long. 116[deg]13'14.12'' W)
HOUZZ, NV                     WP                  (Lat. 36[deg]36'43.75'' N, long. 116[deg]36'37.60'' W)
FUULL, NV                     WP                  (Lat. 37[deg]16'52.93'' N, long. 117[deg]10'13.96'' W)
SKANN, NV                     WP                  (Lat. 37[deg]22'52.68'' N, long. 117[deg]15'54.53'' W)
LOMIA, NV                     WP                  (Lat. 39[deg]13'11.57'' N, long. 119[deg]06'22.95'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-09067 Filed 4-27-22; 8:45 am]
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