Amendment of Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION <SUBAGY>Federal Aviation Administration</SUBAGY> <CFR>14 CFR Part 71</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FAA-2024-2738; Airspace Docket No. 24-AAL-99]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 2120-AA66</RIN> <SUBJECT>Amendment of Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> This action amends Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-444 and V-504. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Evansville, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB). </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> Effective date 0901 UTC, October 2, 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. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be viewed online at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov</E> 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 <E T="03">www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/.</E> 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. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Steven Roff, Rules and Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-8783. </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Authority for This Rulemaking</HD> 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 Air Traffic Service (ATS) route structure as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System. <HD SOURCE="HD1">History</HD> The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2024-2738 in the <E T="04">Federal Register</E> (89 FR 106375; December 30, 2024), proposing to amend Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two comments were received with one being in favor of the action and the other being outside the scope of this airspace action. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Incorporation by Reference</HD> Alaskan 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 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11J is publicly available as listed in the <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E> 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. <HD SOURCE="HD1">The Rule</HD> The FAA is amending to 14 CFR part 71 by modifying Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska. The FAA is taking these actions due to the pending decommissioning of the Evansville, AK, NDB. <E T="03">V-444:</E> Prior to this rule, V-444 in Alaska extended between the Barrow, AK, VOR/DME and the intersection of the Northway, AK, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 120° (M), 138° (T), and the Gulkana, AK, VOR/DME 062° (M), 079° (T) radials. As amended, V-444 extends between the Bettles, AK, VOR/DME and the intersection of the Northway, AK, VORTAC 120° (M), 138° (T), and the Gulkana, AK, VOR/DME 062° (M), 079° (T) radials. <E T="03">V-504:</E> Prior to this rule, V-504 extended between the Nenana, AK, VORTAC and the Deadhorse, AK, VOR/DME. As amended, V-504 extends between the Neana VORTAC and the Bettles, AK, VOR/DME. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Regulatory Notices and Analyses</HD> 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. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Environmental Review</HD> The FAA has determined that this action of amending Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-444 and V-504 in Alaska qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, <E T="03">et seq.</E> ) paragraph 5-6.5.a of FAA's NEPA implementation policy and procedures 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 5-6.5k, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 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 any potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with the FAA's NEPA implementation policy and procedures 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. <LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HED">Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71</HD> Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air). </LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HD1">The Amendment</HD> In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS</HD> <REGTEXT TITLE="14" PART="71"> 1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD> 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p.389. </REGTEXT> <SECTION> <SECTNO>§ 71.1 </SECTNO> <SUBJECT> [Amended] </SUBJECT> </SECTION> <REGTEXT TITLE="14" PART="71"> 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: <EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Paragraph 6010(b) Alaskan VOR Federal Airways.</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">V-444 [Amended]</HD> From Bettles, AK; Fairbanks, AK; Big Delta, AK; Northway, AK; intersection of the Northway 138° and Gulkana 079° radials. <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">V-504 [Amended]</HD> From Nenana, AK; to Bettles, AK. <STARS/> </EXTRACT> </REGTEXT> <SIG> <DATED>Issued in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2025.</DATED> <NAME>Brian Eric Konie,</NAME> Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group. </SIG> </SUPLINF> <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2025-13296 Filed 7-15-25; 8:45 am]</FRDOC> </RULE>