[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 79 (Thursday, April 23, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22586-22587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08556]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0677; Airspace Docket No. 19-ACE-5]
RIN 2120-AA66
Revocation of VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-61
and Amendment of Area Navigation Route T-286 Due to the Decommissioning
of the Robinson, KS, VOR
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule, delay of effective date.
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SUMMARY: This action changes the effective date of a final rule
published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020, removing VHF
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-61 and extending area
navigation (RNAV) route T-286 in its place due to the planned
decommissioning of the Robinson, KS,
[[Page 22587]]
VOR navigation aid (NAVAID). The FAA is delaying the effective date to
coincide with the slipped decommissioning date of the Robinson VOR to
September 10, 2020, and the anticipated completion of pre-requisite air
traffic control (ATC) training necessary to safely implement new air
traffic procedures necessary to adopt the rule amendments.
DATES: The effective date of the final rule published on March 9, 2020
(85 FR 13481) is delayed until September 10, 2020. The Director of the
Federal Register approved this incorporation by reference action under
Title 1 Code of Federal Regulations part 51, subject to the annual
revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.
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:
Background
The FAA published a final rule in the Federal Register for Docket
No. FAA-2019-0677 (85 FR 13481, March 9, 2020), removing VOR Federal
airway V-61 in its entirety and extending RNAV route T-286 in its place
due to the planned decommissioning of the Robinson, KS, VOR NAVAID. The
effective date for that final rule is May 21, 2020. Subsequent to the
final rule, due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns and response
considerations, ATC facilities across the National Airspace System
(NAS) have adjusted controller scheduling and reduced staffing to
reduce pandemic impacts. This has resulted in controller training and
briefing challenges while they perform essential ATC duties supporting
the NAS. As a result, some ATC facilities affected by the rule
amendments were unable to complete the required pre-requisite
controller training necessary to safely implement new air traffic
procedures necessary to adopt the regulatory air traffic service (ATS)
route amendments, and accompanying arrival procedure actions, to
support the May 21, 2020, effective date.
To facilitate the safe and continuous use of existing air traffic
procedures, and allow sufficient time for ATC facilities to complete
the required prerequisite training necessary to safely implement the
new air traffic procedures, the planned decommissioning of the
Robinson, KS, VOR has been slipped to September 10, 2020. Therefore,
the rule removing V-61 and amending T-286 is delayed to coincide with
that date.
VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) and RNAV T-
routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order 7400.11D dated
August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which is incorporated
by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airways and RNAV T-route
listed in this document will be subsequently published in the Order.
FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is
published yearly and effective on September 15.
Good Cause for No Notice and Comment
Section 553(b)(3)(B) of Title 5, United States Code, (the
Administrative Procedure Act) authorizes agencies to dispense with
notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency for ``good
cause'' finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary,
or contrary to the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency,
upon finding good cause, may issue a final rule without seeking comment
prior to the rulemaking. The FAA finds that prior notice and public
comment to this final rule is unnecessary due to the brief length of
the extension of the effective date and the fact that there is no
substantive change to the rule.''
Delay of Effective Date
0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the effective
date of the final rule, Airspace Docket 19-ACE-5, as published in the
Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13481), FR Doc. 2020-04657, is
hereby delayed until September 10, 2020.
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.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 17, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-08556 Filed 4-22-20; 8:45 am]
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