Proposed Revocation of VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-61 and Amendment of Area Navigation Route T-286 Due to the Decommissioning of the Robinson, KS, VOR, 46905-46907 [2019-19112]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 173 / Friday, September 6, 2019 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy Group, Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8783. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 71 [Docket No. FAA–2019–0677; Airspace Docket No. 19–ACE–5] RIN 2120–AA66 Proposed Revocation of VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V–61 and Amendment of Area Navigation Route T–286 Due to the Decommissioning of the Robinson, KS, VOR Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). AGENCY: This action proposes to remove VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V–61 in its entirety and extend area navigation (RNAV) route T–286 in its place. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the Robinson, KS (RBA), VOR portion of the Robinson VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID). The Robinson VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA’s VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program. DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 21, 2019. 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: 1(800) 647–5527, or (202) 366–9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA–2019–0677; Airspace Docket No. 19–ACE–5 at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov. FAA Order 7400.11C, 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 Airspace Policy 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 7400.11C at NARA, email: fedreg.legal@nara.gov or go to https:// www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ ibr-locations.html. jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:25 Sep 05, 2019 Jkt 247001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 National Airspace System as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic. 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– 2019–0677; Airspace Docket No. 19– ACE–5) 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–2019–0677; Airspace Docket No. 19–ACE–5.’’ 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 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 46905 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 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points. Background The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the Robinson, KS (RBA), VOR/DME in March 2020. The Robinson VOR was 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 PerformanceBased 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. With the planned decommissioning of the Robinson VOR, two of the three V– 61 route segments are impacted and the remaining ground-based NAVAID E:\FR\FM\06SEP1.SGM 06SEP1 46906 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 173 / Friday, September 6, 2019 / Proposed Rules coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of V–61 as charted. As such, the FAA proposes to remove V–61 in its entirety between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) NAVAID and the intersection of the Robinson, KS, VOR/DME 141° and St. Joseph, MO, VOR Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 211° radials (the BOWLR fix). To overcome the gap that would result in the en route structure by the removal of V–61, the FAA proposes to extend T–286 between the Grand Island VOR/DME and BOWLR fix to overlay the V–61 routing being removed. Additionally, adjacent VOR Federal airways V–4, V–50, V–71, V–77, V–138, V–307, V–380, and V–551 between the St. Joseph, MO, VORTAC and Topeka, KS, VORTAC areas and the Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME remain available to circumnavigate the affected area. Further, the fixes located along V–61 would be retained in place to assist pilots and air traffic controllers already familiar with them for navigation purposes. Instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use the extended T–286, use the adjacent VOR Federal airways, file point-to-point through the affected area using the fixes that will remain in place, or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors through the area. Lastly, the Robinson DME facility is planned to be retained and charted in its current location as a DME facility with the ‘‘RBA’’ identifier. Visual flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the airways through the affected area could also take advantage of the air traffic services previously listed. A number of minor editorial corrections to the T–286 legal description are also proposed to correct erroneous information and comply with route description policy guidance. The editorial corrections do not change the route’s structure, operational use, or charted depiction. The Proposal jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove VOR Federal airway V–61 and extend RNAV route T– 286 to overlay the V–61 routing being removed. The planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Robinson, KS, VOR/DME has made this action necessary. The proposed air traffic service (ATS) route actions are described below. V–61: V–61 currently extends between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/ DME and the intersection of the Robinson, KS, VOR/DME 141° and St. Joseph, MO, VOR Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 211° radials (BOWLR fix). The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its entirety. T–286: T–286 currently extends between the Rapid City, SD, VORTAC and the Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to extend the route southeast between the Grand Island VOR/DME and the BOWLR fix. Additionally, the Rapid City VORTAC ‘‘RAP’’ identifier is added to the first line of the route description; the type of fix for EFFEX and the type of facility for Grand Island, NE, are corrected; and the geographic coordinates of each route point are updated to be expressed in degrees, minutes, seconds, and hundredths of a second. VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) and low altitude RNAV T-routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order 7400.11C dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The ATS routes 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; T–286 Rapid City, SD (RAP) to BOWLR, KS [Amended] Rapid City, SD (RAP) VORTAC (Lat. 43°58′33.74″ Gordon, NE (GRN) NDB (Lat. 42°48′03.90″ EFFEX, NE FIX (Lat. 42°19′59.17″ Thedford, NE (TDD) VOR/DME (Lat. 41°58′53.99″ BOKKI, NE FIX (Lat. 41°39′54.99″ Grand Island, NE (GRI) VOR/DME (Lat. 40°59′02.50″ Pawnee City, NE (PWE) VORTAC (Lat. 40°12′01.27″ Robinson, KS (RBA) DME (Lat. 39°51′03.00″ FIX (Lat. 39°37′21.29″ BOWLR, KS VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:25 Sep 05, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 N, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, long. long. long. long. long. long. long. long. long. 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 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. § 71.1 [Amended] 2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows: ■ Paragraph 6010(a) Airways. * * * Domestic VOR Federal * * * * V–61 [Removed] * * * Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes. * * * 103°00′44.38″ W) 102°10′45.82″ W) 101°20′11.41″ W) 100°43′08.52″ W) 99°52′17.00″ W) 98°18′53.20″ W) 96°12′22.61″ W) 95°25′23.00″ W) 95°11′00.26″ W) E:\FR\FM\06SEP1.SGM 06SEP1 * * Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 173 / Friday, September 6, 2019 / Proposed Rules * * * * * Issued in Washington, DC, on August 28, 2019. Rodger A. Dean Jr., Manager, Airspace Policy Group. [FR Doc. 2019–19112 Filed 9–5–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 31 CFR Part 50 RIN 1505–AC62 IMARA Calculation Under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Departmental Offices, Department of the Treasury. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. AGENCY: The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) is issuing this proposed rule to implement technical changes to program regulations that address the calculation and notification to the public of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program’s (Program) insurance marketplace aggregate retention amount (IMARA) under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (Act), as amended. SUMMARY: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 7, 2019. Early submissions are encouraged. ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, https:// www.regulations.gov, or by mail (if hard copy, preferably an original and two copies) to the Federal Insurance Office, Attention: Richard Ifft, Room 1410 MT, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20220. Because postal mail may be subject to processing delay, it is recommended that comments be submitted electronically. All comments should be captioned with ‘‘IMARA Calculation Proposed Rule Comments.’’ Please include your name, group affiliation, address, email address, and telephone number in your comment. In general, received comments will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov without change, including any business or personal information provided. Received comments, including attachments and other supporting materials, will be part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not include any information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Ifft, Senior Insurance jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:25 Sep 05, 2019 Jkt 247001 Regulatory Policy Analyst, Federal Insurance Office, 202–622–2922 or Lindsey Baldwin, Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Insurance Office, 202–622– 3220. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (as amended, the Act or TRIA) 1 was enacted on November 26, 2002, following the attacks of September 11, 2001, to address disruptions in the market for terrorism risk insurance, to help ensure the continued availability and affordability of commercial property and casualty insurance for terrorism risk, and to allow for the private markets to stabilize and build insurance capacity to absorb any future losses for terrorism events.2 TRIA requires insurers to ‘‘make available’’ terrorism risk insurance for commercial property and casualty losses resulting from certified acts of terrorism (insured losses), and provides for shared public and private compensation for such insured losses. The Program has been reauthorized three times, most recently by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (the 2015 Reauthorization Act).3 The Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) administers the Program. The Federal Insurance Office (FIO) assists the Secretary in administering the Program.4 To assist insurers, policyholders, and other interested parties in complying with the applicable requirements of the Act, Treasury has issued regulations implementing the Program. In some instances, Treasury has also issued interim guidance to be relied upon by insurers until superseded by any regulations.5 Most recently, Treasury issued regulations implementing the changes to the Program required under the 2015 Reauthorization Act.6 1 Public Law 107–297, 116 Stat. 2322, codified at 15 U.S.C. 6701 note. Because the provisions of TRIA (as amended) appear in a note instead of particular sections of the U.S. Code, the provisions of TRIA are identified by the sections of the law. 2 TRIA, sec. 101(b). 3 See Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005, Public Law 109–144, 119 Stat. 2660; Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, Public Law 110–160, 121 Stat. 1839; Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015, Public Law 114–1, 129 Stat. 3. 4 31 U.S.C. 313(c)(1)(D). 5 Treasury summarized the history of prior rulemakings in connection with the Program in its last notice of proposed rulemaking proposing rule changes to implement the 2015 Reauthorization Act. See 81 FR 18950 (April 1, 2016) (2016 NPRM). 6 See 81 FR 88592 (December 7, 2016) (Certification Interim Final Rule); 81 FR 93756 (December 21, 2016) (Program Final Rules Except Certification). PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 46907 The Act established an industry marketplace aggregate retention amount (IMARA) as a threshold figure to determine whether any Treasury payments under the Program are subject to mandatory recoupment. Under the Act, if total annual payments by participating insurers are below the IMARA, Treasury must recoup all expended amounts up to the IMARA threshold (mandatory recoupment). If total annual payments by participating insurers are above the IMARA, Treasury has the discretion to recoup all expended amounts above the IMARA threshold (discretionary recoupment).7 The 2015 Reauthorization Act established an IMARA of $29.5 billion beginning in calendar year 2015, and provided for an annual $2 billion increase in the IMARA until the IMARA reached $37.5 billion in calendar year 2019.8 Once the $37.5 billion figure was reached in 2019, the 2015 Reauthorization Act provided that the IMARA ‘‘shall be revised to be the amount equal to the annual average of the sum of insurer deductibles for all insurers participating in the Program for the prior 3 calendar years,’’ as such sum is determined by the Secretary.9 An insurer’s deductible under the Program for any particular year is 20 percent of its direct earned premium subject to the Program during the preceding year.10 For example, an insurer’s calendar year 2019 Program deductible is 20 percent of its calendar year 2018 direct earned premium. The 2015 Reauthorization Act required the Secretary to issue a final rule for determining how subsequent IMARA amounts would be calculated and providing a timeline for public notification of the amount each year.11 The 2015 Reauthorization Act also required that Treasury collect data from participating insurers related to the effectiveness of the Program.12 Accordingly, Treasury stated in the preamble to the 2016 NPRM that it would calculate the IMARA beginning in calendar year 2020 based upon the data that it would be collecting: The approach follows the direction in the 2015 Reauthorization Act that the insurance marketplace aggregate retention amount for any calendar year after the Program Trigger reaches $37.5 billion should be based upon the average of insurer deductibles during the three prior calendar years. It calculates this 7 See TRIA, sec. 103(e)(7); see also 31 CFR part 50 subpart J (Recoupment and Surcharge Procedures). 8 TRIA, sec. 103(e)(6)(A). 9 TRIA, sec. 103(e)(6)(B)(ii). 10 TRIA, sec. 102(7). 11 TRIA, sec. 103(e)(6)(C). 12 TRIA, sec. 104(h). E:\FR\FM\06SEP1.SGM 06SEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46905-46907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19112]



[[Page 46905]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0677; Airspace Docket No. 19-ACE-5]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Revocation of VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 
Airway V-61 and Amendment of Area Navigation Route T-286 Due to the 
Decommissioning of the Robinson, KS, VOR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airway V-61 in its entirety and extend area navigation (RNAV) 
route T-286 in its place. The FAA is proposing this action due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Robinson, KS (RBA), VOR portion of the 
Robinson VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid 
(NAVAID). The Robinson VOR is being decommissioned in support of the 
FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 21, 2019.

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: 
1(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0677; Airspace Docket No. 19-ACE-5 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov. FAA Order 7400.11C, 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 Airspace Policy 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 7400.11C at NARA, email: 
[email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, 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 National Airspace System as necessary 
to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

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-2019-0677; Airspace Docket No. 19-ACE-5) 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-2019-0677; Airspace Docket No. 19-ACE-5.'' 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 7400.11C, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective 
September 15, 2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the 
Robinson, KS (RBA), VOR/DME in March 2020. The Robinson VOR was 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.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Robinson VOR, two of the 
three V-61 route segments are impacted and the remaining ground-based 
NAVAID

[[Page 46906]]

coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of V-61 
as charted. As such, the FAA proposes to remove V-61 in its entirety 
between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) NAVAID and the intersection of the Robinson, KS, VOR/DME 141[deg] 
and St. Joseph, MO, VOR Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 211[deg] 
radials (the BOWLR fix).
    To overcome the gap that would result in the en route structure by 
the removal of V-61, the FAA proposes to extend T-286 between the Grand 
Island VOR/DME and BOWLR fix to overlay the V-61 routing being removed. 
Additionally, adjacent VOR Federal airways V-4, V-50, V-71, V-77, V-
138, V-307, V-380, and V-551 between the St. Joseph, MO, VORTAC and 
Topeka, KS, VORTAC areas and the Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME remain 
available to circumnavigate the affected area. Further, the fixes 
located along V-61 would be retained in place to assist pilots and air 
traffic controllers already familiar with them for navigation purposes. 
Instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use the extended T-286, use 
the adjacent VOR Federal airways, file point-to-point through the 
affected area using the fixes that will remain in place, or receive air 
traffic control (ATC) radar vectors through the area. Lastly, the 
Robinson DME facility is planned to be retained and charted in its 
current location as a DME facility with the ``RBA'' identifier. Visual 
flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the airways through 
the affected area could also take advantage of the air traffic services 
previously listed.
    A number of minor editorial corrections to the T-286 legal 
description are also proposed to correct erroneous information and 
comply with route description policy guidance. The editorial 
corrections do not change the route's structure, operational use, or 
charted depiction.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove VOR Federal airway V-61 and 
extend RNAV route T-286 to overlay the V-61 routing being removed. The 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Robinson, KS, VOR/DME 
has made this action necessary. The proposed air traffic service (ATS) 
route actions are described below.
    V-61: V-61 currently extends between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME 
and the intersection of the Robinson, KS, VOR/DME 141[deg] and St. 
Joseph, MO, VOR Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 211[deg] radials 
(BOWLR fix). The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its entirety.
    T-286: T-286 currently extends between the Rapid City, SD, VORTAC 
and the Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to extend the route 
southeast between the Grand Island VOR/DME and the BOWLR fix. 
Additionally, the Rapid City VORTAC ``RAP'' identifier is added to the 
first line of the route description; the type of fix for EFFEX and the 
type of facility for Grand Island, NE, are corrected; and the 
geographic coordinates of each route point are updated to be expressed 
in degrees, minutes, seconds, and hundredths of a second.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) and low 
altitude RNAV T-routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order 
7400.11C dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The ATS routes 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 7400.11C, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and 
effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-61 [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-286 Rapid City, SD (RAP) to BOWLR, KS [Amended]
Rapid City, SD (RAP)                            VORTAC                         (Lat. 43[deg]58'33.74'' N, long. 103[deg]00'44.38'' W)
Gordon, NE (GRN)                                NDB                            (Lat. 42[deg]48'03.90'' N, long. 102[deg]10'45.82'' W)
EFFEX, NE                                       FIX                            (Lat. 42[deg]19'59.17'' N, long. 101[deg]20'11.41'' W)
Thedford, NE (TDD)                              VOR/DME                        (Lat. 41[deg]58'53.99'' N, long. 100[deg]43'08.52'' W)
BOKKI, NE                                       FIX                            (Lat. 41[deg]39'54.99'' N, long. 99[deg]52'17.00'' W)
Grand Island, NE (GRI)                          VOR/DME                        (Lat. 40[deg]59'02.50'' N, long. 98[deg]18'53.20'' W)
Pawnee City, NE (PWE)                           VORTAC                         (Lat. 40[deg]12'01.27'' N, long. 96[deg]12'22.61'' W)
Robinson, KS (RBA)                              DME                            (Lat. 39[deg]51'03.00'' N, long. 95[deg]25'23.00'' W)
BOWLR, KS                                       FIX                            (Lat. 39[deg]37'21.29'' N, long. 95[deg]11'00.26'' W)
 


[[Page 46907]]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 28, 2019.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2019-19112 Filed 9-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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