Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-216 and V-380, and Revocation of VOR Federal Airways V-549 and V-551 in the Vicinity of Mankato, KS, 96871-96872 [2024-28576]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 96871-96872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28576]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1364; Airspace Docket No. 24-ACE-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-216 and V-380, and Revocation 
of VOR Federal Airways V-549 and V-551 in the Vicinity of Mankato, KS

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal Airway V-216 and revokes VOR Federal Airways V-549 and V-
551. VOR Federal Airway V-380 was revoked by a separate airspace docket 
and is removed from this action. The FAA is taking this action due to 
the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Mankato, KS 
(TKO), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). 
The Mankato VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR 
Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, February 20, 2025. 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 7400.11J, 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, 
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 600 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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 National Airspace System as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2024-1364 in the Federal Register (89 FR 42828; May 16, 2024), 
proposing to amend VOR Federal Airways V-216 and V-380, and revoke VOR 
Federal Airways V-549 and V-551 due to the planned decommissioning of 
the VOR portion of the Mankato, KS, VORTAC

[[Page 96872]]

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 final rule for Docket 
No. FAA-2023-2483 in the Federal Register (89 FR 48504; June 7, 2024), 
amending VOR Federal Airway V-216 by removing the airway segment 
between the Lamoni VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and the 
Iowa City, IA, VOR/DME. That airway amendment, effective September 5, 
2024, is included in this rule.
    Additionally, subsequent to the NPRM, the FAA published a final 
rule for Docket No. FAA-2023-2466 in the Federal Register (89 FR 48506; 
June 7, 2024), revoking VOR Federal Airway V-380 effective September 5, 
2024. As a result, VOR Federal Airway V-380 is removed from this docket 
action.

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 
7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. FAA 
Order JO 7400.11J 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 7400.11J 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-
216 and revoking VOR Federal Airways V-549 and V-551. The FAA is taking 
this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of 
the Mankato, KS, VORTAC. The airway actions are described below.
    V-216: Prior to this final rule, V-216 extended between the Lamar, 
IA, VOR/DME and the Mankato, KS, VORTAC; and between the Iowa City, IA, 
VOR/DME and the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME. The airway segment between the 
Hill City, KS, VORTAC and the Mankato VORTAC is removed. As amended, 
the airway is changed to now extend between the Lamar VOR/DME and the 
Hill City VORTAC, and between the Iowa City VOR/DME and the Janesville 
VOR/DME.
    V-549: Prior to the final rule, V-549 extended between the Hays, 
KS, VORTAC and the Mankato, KS, VORTAC. The airway is removed in its 
entirety.
    V-551: Prior to this final rule, V-551 extended between the Salina, 
KS, VORTAC and the Mankato, KS, VORTAC. The airway is removed in its 
entirety.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the V-216 description 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 amending VOR Federal Airway 
V-216 and revoking VOR Federal Airways V-549 and V-551, due to the 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Mankato, KS, VORTAC 
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). 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); 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 
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-216 [Amended]

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

V-549 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-551 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2024.
Richard Lee Parks,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-28576 Filed 12-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P