Amendment of Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal Airway V-4 in the Vicinity of Burley, ID

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-4 in the vicinity of Burley, ID. The FAA is taking this action to update one of the radials used in the airway description.

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 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:

Steven Roff, 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 would modify the route structure as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System (NAS).

Incorporation by Reference

VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010 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. These updates will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

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 Airway V-4 in the vicinity of Burley, ID. The FAA is taking this action to update one of the radials used in the airway description. During a review of VOR Federal Airway V-4, the FAA discovered that V-4 was established without the accuracy of the Terminal Area Route Generation and Traffic Simulation software tool used today. Because of this, there is a one-degree discrepancy in the airway description. The current airway description for V-4 includes the intersection of the Boise, ID, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 130° and the Burley, ID, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) 292° radials (ALKAL, Fix). The ALKAL Fix has been reviewed and is located at the intersection of the Boise VORTAC 130° and the Burley VOR/DME 293° radials. This action corrects the Burley VOR/DME radial used for defining the ALKAL Fix. The amendment is described below.

V-4: V-4 currently extends between the Tatoosh, WA, VORTAC and the Armel, VA, VOR/DME and includes the intersection of the INT Boise 130° and Burley, ID, 292° radials (ALKAL, Fix). This rule changes the component radials that makeup the ALKAL Fix to the intersection of the Boise VORTAC 130° and Burley VOR/DME 293° radials.

The radials in the V-4 airway description are listed in degrees True north.

This action is an administrative change and does not affect the operating requirements, therefore, notice and public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) is unnecessary.

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 Federal Airway V-4 in the vicinity of Burley, ID 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 5-6.5.k., which categorically excludes from further environmental 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 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. Accordingly, the FAA has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant prepared of an environmental impact statement.

Lists 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

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.

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 effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways

V-4 [Amended]

From Tatoosh, WA; INT of Tatoosh 102° and Seattle, WA, 329° radials; Seattle; Yakima, WA; Pendleton, OR; Baker, OR; Boise, ID; INT Boise 130° and Burley, ID, 293° radials; Burley; Malad City, ID; Rock Springs, WY; Cherokee, WY; Laramie, WY; Gill, CO; Thurman, CO; Goodland, KS; Hill City, KS; Salina, KS; Topeka, KS; Kansas City, MO; Hallsville, MO; St. Louis, MO; Troy, IL; Centralia, IL; Pocket City, IN; Louisville, KY; to Lexington, KY. From Charleston, WV; Elkins, WV; Kessel, WV; INT Kessel 097° and Armel, VA, 292° radials; to Armel.