Proposed Rule2025-02281
Amendment of Jet Route J-96 in the Vicinity of Cimarron, NM
Primary source
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Published
February 6, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to remove a segment of Jet Route J-96 between the Cimarron, NM (CIM), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Garden City, KS (GCK), VORTAC navigational aids (NAVAID). The FAA is proposing this action due to the Cimarron VORTAC radials between 045[deg] and 055[deg], stated in degrees magnetic (M) north, that make up the route segment east of Cimarron, NM, being unusable since 2020.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 24 (Thursday, February 6, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 24 (Thursday, February 6, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9071-9073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02281]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0174; Airspace Docket No. 25-ASW-1]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Jet Route J-96 in the Vicinity of Cimarron, NM
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove a segment of Jet Route J-96
between the Cimarron, NM (CIM), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional
Range (VOR)/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Garden City, KS
(GCK), VORTAC navigational aids (NAVAID). The FAA is proposing this
action due to the Cimarron VORTAC
[[Page 9072]]
radials between 045[deg] and 055[deg], stated in degrees magnetic (M)
north, that make up the route segment east of Cimarron, NM, being
unusable since 2020.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 24, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2025-0174 and
Airspace Docket No. 25-ASW-1 using any of the following methods:
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and follow
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
* Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
* Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> at any time. Follow the online instructions for
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points,
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at <a href="http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/">www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/</a>. You may also contact the Rules and
Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations
Group, Policy Directorate, 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 would modify the National Airspace System as necessary
to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments
are filed in writing.
The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light
of the comments it receives.
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
<a href="http://www.dot.gov/privacy">www.dot.gov/privacy</a>.
Availability of Rulemaking Documents
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at
<a href="http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/">www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/</a>.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and
hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during
normal business hours at the office of the Operations Support Group,
Central Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
Incorporation by Reference
Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 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 proposes to
amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11J, dated
July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. These updates would 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 7400.11J lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas,
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.
Background
The Cimarron, NM, VORTAC radials between 045[deg](M) and
055[deg](M), that support the route segment between the Cimarron and
Garden City, KS, VORTACs, have been unusable since 2020. Water
intrusion has created issues with the underground equipment and
structures supporting the Cimarron VORTAC, resulting in the outage of
radials that emanate from the VORTAC. A Flight Data Center (FDC) Notice
to Air Missions (NOTAM) has been published since 2020 identifying the
unusable Cimarron VORTAC radials impacting the J-96 segment between the
Cimarron VORTAC and Garden City VORTAC.
The FAA has attempted to restore the unusable Cimarron VORTAC
radials, as recent as August 2024, with no success. The physical
location of the equipment is challenging for the FAA technicians
conducting repairs to access because there are large rocks in proximity
to the equipment that makes site excavation difficult. Further, the FAA
estimated the cost to ``dopplerize'' the VOR to sufficiently restore
the unusable radials at three million dollars. Since most aircraft
operating in the Class A airspace altitude stratum are Area Navigation
(RNAV) equipped and the J-96 route segment between the Cimarron and
Garden City VORTACs has been unusable since 2020, the FAA believes
removing the affected route segment would not adversely impact users.
As a result of the proposed amendment to J-96, the jet route would
have a gap between the Cimarron and Garden City VORTACs. To address the
[[Page 9073]]
gap between the Cimarron and Garden City VORTACs, instrument flight
rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent Jet Routes J-18 and J-110 or
request air traffic control radar vectors to fly around or through the
affected area. Additionally, IFR pilots with RNAV-equipped aircraft
could also navigate point-to-point using the existing fixes that will
remain in place to support continued operations through the affected
area.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by amending Jet
Route J-96 due to the Cimarron VORTAC radials between 045[deg](M) and
055[deg](M), that support the route segment between the Cimarron, NM,
and Garden City, KS, VORTACs being unusable since 2020. The proposed
jet route action is described below.
J-96: J-96 currently extends between the Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC
and the Joliet, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME). The FAA
proposes to remove the airway segment between the Cimarron, NM, VORTAC
and the Garden City, KS, VORTAC. As amended, the airway would be
changed to extend between the Los Angeles VORTAC and the Cimarron
VORTAC and between the Garden City VORTAC and the Joliet VOR/DME.
The NAVAID radials listed in the J-96 airway description in the
regulatory text of this notice of proposed rulemaking are unchanged and
stated in degrees True north.
Regulatory Notices and Analyses
The FAA has determined that this proposed 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
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is
certified that this proposed rule, when promulgated, would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration proposes to amend 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 2004 Jet Routes.
* * * * *
J-96 [Amended]
From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; INT Paradise 093[deg] and
Parker, CA, 261[deg] radials; Parker; Drake, AZ; Gallup, NM; to
Cimarron, NM. From Garden City, KS; Salina, KS; Kirksville, MO;
Peoria, IL; to Joliet, IL.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 31, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-02281 Filed 2-5-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 6, 2025.
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