[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3301-3303]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00547]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0010; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASW-18]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Revocation of Jet Route J-105 and Amendment of VOR
Federal Airways V-15, V-63, V-272, and V-583 in the Vicinity of
McAlester, OK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove one Jet Route, J-105, and amend
four VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways, V-15, V-63, V-
272, and V-583, in the vicinity of McAlester, OK. The modifications are
necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
McAlester, OK, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid
(NAVAID), which provides navigation guidance for portions of the
affected air traffic service (ATS) routes. The McAlester VOR is being
decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network
(MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 6, 2020.

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<PHONE_NUMBER>. You must identify FAA Docket No.
FAA-2020-0010; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASW-18 at the beginning of your
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11D, 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 7400.11D at NARA, email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

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 would modify the route structure as necessary to
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National
Airspace System.

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-2020-0010; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASW-18) 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-2020-0010; Airspace Docket No. 17-ASW-18.'' 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 Blvd.,
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective
September 15, 2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D 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 the McAlester, OK, VORTAC in July, 2020. McAlester VOR is 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 Next Generation Air Transportation System
(NextGen) Transition to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for
Establishing a VOR Minimum Operational Network),'' published in the
Federal Register of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-
1082. Although the VOR portion of the McAlester, OK, VORTAC NAVAID is
planned for decommissioning, the co-located Distance Measuring
Equipment (DME) is being retained. The ATS routes affected by the
planned McAlester VOR decommissioning are Jet Route J-105 and VOR
Federal airways V-15, V-63, V-272, and V-583.
    With the planned decommissioning of the McAlester VOR, the
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to
enable the continuity of the effected ATS routes. As such, proposed
modifications to the affected Jet Route and VOR Federal Airways would
result in removal of the jet route and gaps in the airways. To overcome
the jet route removal and airway gaps, instrument flight rules (IFR)
traffic could use adjacent Jet Routes, including J-26, J-35, J-87, J-
89, J-101, and J-181, or VOR Federal airways, including V-13, V-161, V-
210, V-315, V-532, and V-573, to circumnavigate the affected area.
Additionally, IFR traffic could file point to point through the
affected area using the existing airway fixes that will remain in
place, or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors through the
area. Visual flight rules pilots who elect to navigate via the airways
through the affected area could also take advantage of the adjacent VOR
Federal airways or ATC services listed previously.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by removing Jet Route J-105 and modifying
VOR Federal Airways V-15, V-63, V-272, and V-583. The planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the McAlester, OK, VORTAC NAVAID
has made this action necessary. The proposed Jet route and VOR Federal
airway changes are outlined below.
    J-105: J-105 currently extends between the Ranger, TX, VORTAC and
the Badger, WI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the jet route in
its entirety.
    V-15: V-15 currently extends between the Hobby, TX, VOR/DME and the
Neosho, MO, VOR/DME; and between the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC and the
Minot, ND, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
overlying the McAlester, OK, VORTAC between the Bonham, TX, VORTAC and
the Okmulgee, OK, VOR/DME. Concurrent changes to other portions of the
airway are being proposed in separate NPRMs. The unaffected portions of
the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-63: V-63 currently extends between the Bowie, TX, VORTAC and the
Oshkosh, WI, VORTAC; and between the Wausau, WI, VORTAC and the
Houghton, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
overlying the McAlester, OK, VORTAC between the Texoma, OK, VOR/DME and
the Razorback, AR, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing
airway would remain as charted.
    V-272: V-272 currently extends between the Dalhart, TX, VORTAC and
the Fort Smith, AR, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment overlying the McAlester, OK, VORTAC between the Will Rogers,
OK, VORTAC and the Fort Smith, AR, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of
the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-583: V-583 currently extends between the Centex, TX, VORTAC and
the McAlester, OK, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment overlying the McAlester, OK, VORTAC between the Paris, TX, VOR/
DME and the McAlester, OK, VORTAC. Concurrent changes to other portions
of the airway are being proposed in a separate NPRM. The unaffected
portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.

    All radials in the route descriptions below are unchanged and
stated in True degrees.
    Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 and VOR Federal airways
are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 7400.11D dated August
8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which is incorporated by
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Jet Route and VOR Federal airways listed
in this document would be subsequently published in the 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 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(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 7400.11D,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019 and
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-105 [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-15 [Amended]

    From Hobby, TX; Navasota, TX; College Station, TX; Waco, TX;
Cedar Creek, TX; to Bonham, TX. From Okmulgee, OK; to Neosho, MO.
From Sioux City, IA; INT Sioux City 340[deg] and Sioux Falls, SD,
169[deg] radials; Sioux Falls; Huron, SD; Aberdeen, SD; Bismarck,
ND; to Minot, ND.
* * * * *

V-63 [Amended]

    From Bowie, TX; to Texoma, OK. From Razorback, AR; Springfield,
MO; Hallsville, MO; Quincy, IL; Burlington, IA; Moline, IL;
Davenport, IA; Rockford, IL; Janesville, WI; Badger, WI; to Oshkosh,
WI. From Wausau, WI; Rhinelander, WI; to Houghton, MI. Excluding
that airspace at and above 10,000 feet MSL from 5 NM north to 46 NM
north of Quincy, IL, when the Howard West MOA is active.
* * * * *

V-272 [Amended]

    From Dalhart, TX; Borger, TX; Burns Flat, OK; to Will Rogers,
OK.
* * * * *

V-583 [Amended]

    From Centex, TX; INT Centex 061[deg] and College Station, TX,
273[deg] radials; College Station; Leona, TX; Frankston, TX;
Quitman, TX; to Paris, TX.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2020.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-00547 Filed 1-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P