Revocation of Segments of V-330 and Establishment T-470 Near Boise, ID

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action revokes the portion of the Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V–330 between the Boise VOR with Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the intersection of Liberator VOR 084° radial and Burley VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) 323° radial. This action also establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T–470. These actions are due to the planned decommissioning of the Liberator, ID (LIA), VOR.

DATES:

Effective date 0901 UTC, August 10, 2023. 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:

A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.

FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steven Roff, 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.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. FAA 2022–0235 in the Federal Register (88 FR 7899; February 7, 2023), proposing to amend VOR Federal Airway V–330 and establish RNAV route T–470. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were received.

Differences From the NPRM

The NPRM that published in the Federal Register , contained typographical errors in the proposal section. In the preamble of the NPRM the navigational aids (NAVAID) Wildhorse, Burley, Idaho Falls, and Muddy Mountain were incorrectly described as VORs. All four of these NAVAIDs are VOR/DME. This change does not affect the route descriptions.

Incorporation by Reference

VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010 of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022 and effective September 15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.

FAA Order JO 7400.11G 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 airway V–330. V–330 is currently made up of two separate portions. The first navigates between the Wildhorse, OR, VOR/DME; and the intersection of the Liberator VOR 084° radial and the Burley VOR/DME 323° radial. The second portion navigates between the Idaho Falls, ID, VOR/DME; and the Muddy Mountain, WY, VOR/DME. This action amends the first portion only. The second portion remains unchanged.

In the first portion, the FAA revokes two contiguous segments. The first is the segment between the Boise VORTAC and the intersection of the Boise VORTAC 130° radial and Liberator VOR 084° radial. The second is between the intersection of the Boise VORTAC 130° radial and Liberator VOR 084° radial and the intersection of the Liberator VOR 084° radial and the Burley VOR/DME 323° radial. The VOR Federal Airway action is described below.

V–330: As amended, V–330 extends between the Wildhorse, OR, VOR/DME and the Boise, ID, VORTAC. V–330 also extends between the Idaho Falls, ID, VOR/DME and the Muddy Mountain, WY, VOR/DME.

This action also amends 14 CFR part 71 by establishing RNAV T-route T–470 in the vicinity of Boise, ID. The new route is described below.

T–470: RNAV route T–470 extends between the ALKAL, ID, Fix; the KINZE, ID, Fix; the VIPUC, WY, Fix; the IDECA, WY, Fix; the DEDNE, WY, waypoint (WP); the DEKKR, WY, WP; the SWEAT, WY, Fix; and the CHOMP, WY, Fix.

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 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 the actions of (1) revoking the portion of the VOR Federal airway V–330 between the Boise VORTAC and the intersection of Liberator VOR 084° radial and Burley VOR/DME 323° radial, and (2) establishing United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T–470 qualify 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); and paragraph 5–6.5.i., which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 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.

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

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.

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

V–330 [Amended]

From Wildhorse, OR; to Boise, ID. From Idaho Falls, ID; Jackson, WY; Dunoir, WY; Riverton, WY; to Muddy Mountain, WY.

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.