Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 in the Vicinity of Lone Rock, WI, 16580-16582 [2020-05865]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 24, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16580-16582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05865]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0244; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 
in the Vicinity of Lone Rock, WI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Lone Rock, WI (LNR), VOR/
Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID), which 
provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected air traffic 
service (ATS) routes. The Lone Rock VOR is being decommissioned as part 
of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 8, 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: 
1(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0244; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-1 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 protected] 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

[[Page 16581]]

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-2020-0244; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-1) 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-2020-0244; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-1.'' 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 to decommission the VOR portion of the Lone 
Rock, WI (LNR), VOR/DME in September 2020. The Lone Rock 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. Although the VOR portion of the Lone Rock VOR/DME NAVAID is 
planned for decommissioning, the DME portion is being retained with the 
``LNR'' identifier. The ATS routes affected by the Lone Rock VOR 
decommissioning are VOR Federal airways V-24, V-97, V-171, V-398, and 
V-411. However, changes to V-398 and V-411 are not addressed in this 
NPRM because proposed amendments contained in a previous NPRM published 
in the Federal Register of January 24, 2020 (85 FR 4245), Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0004, would remove the airway segments supported by the Lone 
Rock VOR in those airways.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Lone Rock VOR, the 
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to 
enable the continuity of V-24, V-97, or V-171 within the affected area. 
As such, the proposed modification to V-24 would result in a second gap 
being created in the airway, to V-97 would result in an existing gap 
being expanded further, and to V-171 would result in a gap being 
created in the airway.
    To overcome the proposed removal of the V-24, V-97, and V-171 
airway segments, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use 
adjacent VOR Federal airways, including V-82, V-100, V-129, V-170, V-
228, V-503, and V-510, to circumnavigate the affected area. IFR traffic 
could also file point to point using the existing fixes that will 
remain in place or request air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors to 
continue operating though the affected area. Additionally, the FAA is 
retaining the Lone Rock DME facility in place with the same ``LNR'' 
identifier to support FAA NextGen flight procedures. 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.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend VOR Federal airways V-24, V-97, 
and V-171 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Lone Rock, WI, VOR/DME. The proposed VOR Federal airway actions are 
described below.
    V-24: V-24 currently extends between the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME and 
Northbrook, IL, VOR/DME; and between the Peotone, IL, VOR/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) and Brickyard, IN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to 
remove the airway segment between the Rochester, MN, VOR/DME and the 
Janesville, WI, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
would remain as charted.
    V-97: V-97 currently extends between the Dolphin, FL, VORTAC and 
the intersection of the Chicago Heights, IL, VORTAC 358[deg] and 
DuPage, IL, 101[deg] VOR/DME radials (NILES fix); and between the 
intersection of the DuPage, IL, VOR/DME 347[deg] and Janesville, WI, 
VOR/DME 112[deg] radials (KRENA fix) and Gopher, MN, VORTAC. The 
airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded. 
The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment between the intersection 
of the DuPage, IL, VOR/DME 347[deg] and Janesville, WI, VOR/DME 
112[deg] radials (KRENA fix) and the Nodine, MN, VORTAC. The unaffected 
portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-171: V-171 currently extends between the Lexington, KY, VOR/DME 
and Roseau, MN, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME

[[Page 16582]]

and the Nodine, MN, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing 
airway would remain as charted.
    All radials contained in the route descriptions below are unchanged 
and stated in True degrees.
    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 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 7400.11D, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and 
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-24 [Amended]

    From Aberdeen, SD; Watertown, SD; Redwood Falls, MN; to 
Rochester, MN. From Janesville, WI; INT Janesville 112[deg] and 
Northbrook, IL, 291[deg] radials; to Northbrook. From Peotone, IL; 
INT Peotone 152[deg] and Brickyard, IN, 312[deg] radials; to 
Brickyard.
* * * * *

V-97 [Amended]

    From Dolphin, FL; La Belle, FL; St. Petersburg, FL; Seminole, 
FL; Pecan, GA; Atlanta, GA; INT Atlanta 001[deg] and Volunteer, TN, 
197[deg] radials; Volunteer; London, KY; Lexington, KY; Cincinnati, 
KY; Shelbyville, IN; INT Shelbyville 313[deg] and Boiler, IN, 
136[deg] radials; Boiler; Chicago Heights, IL; to INT Chicago 
Heights 358[deg] and DuPage, IL, 101[deg] radials. From Nodine, MN; 
to Gopher, MN. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United 
States is excluded.
* * * * *

V-171 [Amended]

    From Lexington, KY; INT Lexington 251[deg] and Louisville, KY, 
114[deg] radials; Louisville; Terre Haute, IN; Danville, IL; 
Peotone, IL; INT Peotone 281[deg] and Joliet, IL, 173[deg] radials; 
Joliet; to Rockford, IL. From Nodine, MN; INT Nodine 298[deg] and 
Farmington, MN, 124[deg] radials; Farmington; Darwin, MN; 
Alexandria, MN; INT Alexandria 321[deg] and Grand Forks, ND, 
152[deg] radials; Grand Forks; to Roseau, MN.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-05865 Filed 3-23-20; 8:45 am]
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