81 FR 1877 - Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-35, Western United States

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 9 (January 14, 2016)

This action makes an editorial change to the legal description of United States Area Navigation Route Q-35 to reverse the order of points listed in the route description in FAA Order 7400.9. This action is simply to comply with the standard format for describing routes. The existing alignment of the airway is not affected by this action.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1877-1878]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33095]



[[Page 1877]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2013-6001; Airspace Docket No. 15-ANM-10]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-35, 
Western United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This action makes an editorial change to the legal description 
of United States Area Navigation Route Q-35 to reverse the order of 
points listed in the route description in FAA Order 7400.9. This action 
is simply to comply with the standard format for describing routes. The 
existing alignment of the airway is not affected by this action.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, March 31, 2016. 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 7400.9 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can 
contact the Airspace Policy 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 7400.9Z at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Stahl, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, 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 is merely an editorial change of the legal description of Q-35 to 
comply with existing administrative format procedures.

History

    Airway and route legal descriptions are published in FAA Order 
7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points. Current format 
guidelines for these legal descriptions require that the order of 
points in a description be listed from ``west-to-east'' or from 
``south-to-north,'' as applicable. The description for Q-35 lists the 
points from ``north-to-south.'' This rule simply reverses the order of 
the points listed in Order 7400.9Z to a ``south-to-north'' format for 
standardization.
    United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 
2006 of FAA Order 7400.9Z, dated August 6, 2015, and effective 
September 15, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. 
The United States Area Navigation Route listed in this document will be 
published subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.9Z, airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 
2015. FAA Order 7400.9Z is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.9Z lists Class A, B, 
C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting 
points.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by reversing the order of points listed in the legal 
description of United States Area Navigation Route Q-35 as published in 
FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points. This is 
only an editorial change revising the order ``south to north'' instead 
of ``north to south'' to comply with the standard route description 
format. The change does not alter the current alignment of Q-35 and the 
airway track is correct on aeronautical charts.
    Since this action merely involves an editorial change in the legal 
description of United States Area Navigation Route Q-35 to standardize 
the format, and does not involve a change in the dimensions or 
operating requirements of the affected route, notice and public 
procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) are 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 qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, 
paragraph 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to cause any 
potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary 
circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental 
assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of 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.

[[Page 1878]]

Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the FAA Order 
7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 
2015, and effective September 15, 2015, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes

* * * * *

Q-35 DRK to IMB [Amended]
 
DRK                    VORTAC                (Lat. 34[deg]42'09'' N., long. 112[deg]28'49'' W.)
CORKR                  FIX                   (Lat. 36[deg]05'02'' N., long. 112[deg]24'01'' W.)
WINEN                  WP                    (Lat. 37[deg]56'00'' N., long. 113[deg]30'00'' W.)
NEERO                  WP                    (Lat. 41[deg]49'03'' N., long. 118[deg]01'29'' W.)
IMB                    VORTAC                (Lat. 44[deg]38'54'' N., long. 119[deg]42'42'' W.)
 


    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 28, 2015.
Kenneth Ready,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2015-33095 Filed 1-13-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P