[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 17, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50565-50566]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17512]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1097; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-64]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-233;
Kotzebue, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route
T-233 in the vicinity of Kotzebue, AK, in support of a large and
comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, November 3, 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 www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact
the Rules and ReguLat.ons Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and ReguLat.ons
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 reguLat.ons to assign the use of
the airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the
efficient use of airspace. This reguLat.on is within the scope of that
authority as it expands the availability of RNAV routes in the state of
Alaska and improve the efficient flow of air traffic within the
National Airspace System by lessening the dependency on ground based
navigation.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA-2021-1097 in the Federal Register (86 FR 70785; December 13, 2021),
amending RNAV route T-233 in the vicinity of Kotzebue, AK, in support
of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the
state of Alaska. Interested parties were invited to participate in this
rulemaking effort by submitting comments on the proposal. No comments
were received.
    United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph
6011 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 RNAV 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 actions amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending RNAV route T-233 in
the vicinity of Kotzebue, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive
T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. The route
amendment is described below.
    T-233: T-233 is amended by replacing the Evansville, AK (EAV), Non-
Directional Beacon (NDB) with the Bettles, AK (BTT), VHF
Omnidirectional

Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME); replacing the Ambler, AK
(AMF), NDB with the new TOMPY, AK, waypoint (WP); removing the KORKY,
AK, WP as it is no longer a turn point; extending the route westward
from the TOMPY WP to the Kotzebue, AK (OTZ), VOR/DME; and adding the
new CIBDU, AK, WP between the TOMPY WP and the Kotzebue, AK, VOR/DME to
enable a lower minimum enroute altitude between the two route points.
Lastly, the route is described in a West to East orientation.
    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 reguLat.on only involves an
established body of technical reguLat.ons for which frequent and
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current.
It, therefore: (1) Is not a ``significant reguLat.ry action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under
Department of Transportation (DOT) ReguLat.ry Policies and Procedures
(44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) does not warrant preparation
of a reguLat.ry 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 ReguLat.ry Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this airspace action of amending RNAV
route T-233 in the vicinity of Kotzebue, AK, qualifies for categorical
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.) and its implementing reguLat.ons 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), and paragraph 5-
6.5i, which categorically excludes from further environmental review
the establishment of new or revised air traffic control procedures
conducted at 3,000 feet or more above ground level (AGL); procedures
conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not cause traffic to be
routinely routed over noise sensitive areas; modifications to currently
approved procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not
significantly increase noise over noise sensitive areas; and increases
in minimum altitudes and landing minima. 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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-233 Kotzebue, AK (OTZ) to Bettles, AK (BTT) [Amended]
Kotzebue, AK (OTZ)                              VOR/DME                        (Lat. 66[deg]53'08.46'' N, long. 162[deg]32'23.77'' W)
CIBDU, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 66[deg]52'57.45'' N, long. 161[deg]03'44.52'' W)
TOMPY, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 67[deg]06'18.81'' N, long. 157[deg]51'52.03'' W)
ENCOR, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 66[deg]55'58.35'' N, long. 152[deg]19'54.35'' W)
Bettles, AK (BTT)                               VOR/DME                        (Lat. 66[deg]54'18.03'' N, long. 151[deg]32'09.18'' W)

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 10, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and ReguLat.ons.
[FR Doc. 2022-17512 Filed 8-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P