Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-126, V-156, V-233, and V-422, and Revocation of V-340 and V-371 in the Vicinity of Knox, IN, 18028-18029 [2023-06104]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18028-18029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06104]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1399; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-22]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-126, V-156, V-233, and V-422, 
and Revocation of V-340 and V-371 in the Vicinity of Knox, IN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional 
Range (VOR) Federal airways V-126, V-156, V-233, and V-422, and revokes 
VOR Federal airways V-340 and V-371. The FAA is taking this action due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Knox, IN 
(OXI), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid 
(NAVAID). The Knox VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's 
VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, June 15, 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 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: 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 modifies the ATS 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-2022-1399 in the Federal Register (87 FR 72426, November 25, 2022), 
amending VOR Federal airways V-126, V-156, V-233, and V-422, and 
revoking VOR Federal airways V-340 and V-371 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Knox, IN, VOR/DME NAVAID. 
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

    Subsequent to the NPRM, the FAA published a rule for Docket No. 
FAA-2022-1107 in the Federal Register (88 FR 4081, January 24, 2023), 
amending VOR Federal airway V-156 by removing the airway segment 
between the Gipper, MI, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the 
Kalamazoo, MI, VOR/DME. That airway amendment, effective April 20, 
2023, is included in this rule.
    Additionally, subsequent to the NPRM, the FAA published a rule for 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1113 in the Federal Register (88 FR 2504 January 
17, 2023), amending VOR Federal airway V-233 by removing the airway 
segment between the Goshen, IN, VORTAC and the Litchfield, MI, VOR/DME. 
That airway amendment, effective April 20, 2023, is included in this 
rule.

Incorporation by Reference

    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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 airways 
V-126, V-156, V-233, and V-422, and revoking VOR Federal airways V-340 
and V-371 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Knox, IN, VOR/DME. The VOR Federal airway actions are described below.
    V-126: V-126 extends between the intersection of the Peotone, IL, 
VORTAC 053[deg] and Knox, IN, VOR/DME 297[deg] radials (BEARZ Fix) and 
the intersection of the Goshen, IN, VORTAC 092[deg] and Fort Wayne, IN, 
VORTAC 016[deg] radials (ILTON Fix). The airway segment between the 
BEARZ Fix and the Goshen, IN, VORTAC is removed. As amended, the airway 
extends between the Goshen VORTAC and the intersection of the Goshen 
VORTAC 092[deg] and the Fort Wayne VORTAC 016[deg] radials (ILTON Fix).

[[Page 18029]]

    V-156: V-156 extends between the Cedar Rapids, IA, VOR/DME and the 
Gipper, MI, VORTAC. The airway segment between the Peotone, IL, VORTAC 
and the Gipper, MI, VORTAC is removed. As amended, the airway extends 
between the Cedar Rapids VOR/DME and the Peotone VORTAC.
    V-233: V-233 extends between the Spinner, IL, VORTAC and the 
Goshen, IN, VORTAC; and between the Mount Pleasant, MI, VOR/DME and the 
Pellston, MI, VORTAC. The airway segment between the Roberts, IL, VOR/
DME and the Goshen, IN, VORTAC is removed. As amended, the airway 
extends between the Spinner VORTAC and the Roberts VOR/DME and between 
the Mount Pleasant VOR/DME and the Pellston VORTAC.
    V-340: V-340 extends between the intersection of the Peotone, IL, 
VORTAC 053[deg] and Knox, IN, VOR/DME 297[deg] radials (BEARZ Fix) and 
the Fort Wayne, IN, VORTAC. The airway is removed in its entirety.
    V-371: V-371 extends between the Boiler, IN, VORTAC and the Knox, 
IN, VOR/DME. The airway is removed in its entirety.
    V-422: V-422 extends between the intersection of the DuPage, IL, 
VOR/DME 101[deg] and Chicago Heights, IL, VORTAC 358[deg] radials 
(NILES Fix) and the Flag City, OH, VORTAC. The airway segment between 
the NILES Fix and the Webster Lake, IN, VOR is removed. As amended, the 
airway extends between the Webster Lake VOR and the Flag City VORTAC.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway descriptions 
below are unchanged and stated in degrees True north.

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 this action of amending VOR Federal 
airways V-126, V-156, V-233, and V-422, and revoking VOR Federal 
airways V-340 and V-371, due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the Knox, IN, VOR/DME NAVAID, qualifies 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-
6.5k, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 
review the publication of existing air traffic control procedures that 
do not essentially change existing tracks, create new tracks, change 
altitude, or change concentration of aircraft on these tracks. 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. 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 
7400.11G, 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-126 [Amended]

    From Goshen, IN; to INT Goshen 092[deg] and Fort Wayne, IN, 
016[deg] radials.
* * * * *

V-156 [Amended]

    From Cedar Rapids, IA; Moline, IL; Bradford, IL; to Peotone, IL.
* * * * *

V-233 [Amended]

    From Spinner, IL; INT Spinner 061[deg] and Roberts, IL, 233[deg] 
radials; to Roberts. From Mount Pleasant, MI; INT Mount Pleasant 
351[deg] and Gaylord, MI, 207[deg] radials; Gaylord; to Pellston, 
MI.
* * * * *

V-340 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-371 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-422 [Amended]

    From Webster Lake, IN; INT Webster Lake 097[deg] and Flag City, 
OH, 289[deg] radials; to Flag City.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-06104 Filed 3-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P