Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-48, V-52, V-216, and V-434, and Revocation of VOR Federal Airway V-206 in the Vicinity of Ottumwa, IA, 48504-48506 [2024-12457]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48504-48506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12457]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2483; Airspace Docket No. 23-AGL-24]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-48, V-52, V-216, and V-434, 
and Revocation of VOR Federal Airway V-206 in the Vicinity of Ottumwa, 
IA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal Airways V-48, V-52, V-216, and V-434, and revokes VOR 
Federal Airway V-206. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Ottumwa, IA (OTM), VOR/
Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The 
Ottumwa VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, September 5, 2024. 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 7400.11H, 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 it modifies the Air Traffic Service (ATS) route structure 
as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic 
within the National Airspace System.

[[Page 48505]]

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2023-2483 in the Federal Register (88 FR 89344; December 27, 2023), 
proposing to amend VOR Federal Airways V-48, V-52, V-216, and V-434, 
and revoke VOR Federal Airway V-206 due to the planned decommissioning 
of the VOR portion of the Ottumwa, IA, VOR/DME NAVAID. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were received.

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 
7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. FAA 
Order JO 7400.11H 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 7400.11H 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-48, V-52, V-216, and V-434, and revoking VOR Federal Airway V-206. 
This action is due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of 
the Ottumwa, IA, VOR/DME. The airway actions are described below.
    V-48: Prior to this final rule, V-48 extended between the Ottumwa, 
IA, VOR/DME and the Pontiac, IL, VOR/DME. The airway segment between 
the Ottumwa VOR/DME and the Burlington, IA, VOR/DME is removed. As 
amended, the airway is changed to now extend between the Burlington 
VOR/DME and the Pontiac VOR/DME.
    V-52: Prior to this final rule, V-52 extended between the Des 
Moines, IA, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Ottumwa, IA, 
VOR/DME; and between the St. Louis, MO, VORTAC and the Pocket City, IN, 
VORTAC. The airway segment between the Des Moines VORTAC and the 
Ottumwa VOR/DME is removed. As amended, the airway is changed to now 
extend between the St. Louis VORTAC and the Pocket City VORTAC.
    V-206: Prior to this final rule, V-206 extended between the 
Napoleon, MO, VORTAC and the Ottumwa, IA, VOR/DME. The airway segment 
between the Kirksville, MO, VORTAC and the Ottumwa VOR/DME is removed 
due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Ottumwa 
VOR/DME. Additionally, the airway segment between the Napoleon VORTAC 
and the Kirksville VORTAC is removed due to that airway segment 
overlapping V-10 which will remain charted and provide navigational 
guidance between the two NAVAIDs. As amended, the airway is removed in 
its entirety.
    V-216: Prior to this final rule, V-216 extended between the Lamar, 
CO, VOR/DME and the Mankato, KS, VORTAC; and between the Lamoni, IA, 
VOR/DME and the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME. The airway segment between the 
Lamoni VOR/DME and the Iowa City, IA, VOR/DME is removed. As amended, 
the airway is changed to now extend between the Lamar VOR/DME and the 
Mankato VORTAC, and between the Iowa City VOR/DME and the Janesville 
VOR/DME.
    V-434: Prior to this final rule, V-434 extended between the 
Ottumwa, IA, VOR/DME and the Brickyard, IN, VORTAC. The airway segment 
between the Ottumwa VOR/DME and the Moline, IL, VOR/DME is removed. As 
amended, the airway is changed to now extend between the Moline VOR/DME 
and the Brickyard VORTAC.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway descriptions in 
the regulatory text of this final rule 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 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-
6.5i, 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. 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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and

[[Page 48506]]

effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-48 [Amended]

    From Burlington, IA; Peoria, IL; to Pontiac, IL.
* * * * *

V-52 [Amended]

    From St Louis, MO; Troy, IL; INT Troy 099[deg] and Pocket City, 
IN, 311[deg] radials; to Pocket City.
* * * * *

V-206 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-216 [Amended]

    From Lamar, CO; Hill City, KS; to Mankato, KS. From Iowa City, 
IA; INT Iowa City 062[deg] and Janesville, WI, 240[deg] radials; to 
Janesville.
* * * * *

V-434 [Amended]

    From Moline, IL; Peoria, IL; Champaign, IL; to Brickyard, IN.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 3, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-12457 Filed 6-6-24; 8:45 am]
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