Realignment of Jet Route J-66; Tennessee

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-ASO-28]

RIN 2120-AA66

Realignment of Jet Route J-66; Tennessee

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action realigns Jet Route 66 (J-66) in the State of

Tennessee. Realigning J-66 is necessary because the route is aligned on

a radial of the Memphis Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/

Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and that VORTAC will be moved south of

its present position. This action will ensure that air traffic

operations along the jet route are not interrupted by the relocation of

the navigational aid. This action coincides with the relocation of the

Memphis VORTAC.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, August 13, 1998.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or

before July 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule in triplicate to: Manager, Air

Traffic Division, ASO-500, Docket No. 97-ASO-28, Federal Aviation

Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, GA 30320. Comments may be also

sent electronically to the following Internet address: 9-Direct Rule-

C[email protected]. Comments delivered must be marked Airspace Docket

No. 97-ASO-28.

The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of

the Chief Counsel, Room 916G, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia P. Crawford, Airspace and

Rules Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management,

Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Rule

The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 to modify J-66 in the State of

Tennessee. Realigning J-66 will ensure that air traffic operations are

not interrupted by virtue of relocating the Memphis VORTAC. The

effective date of this direct final rule coincides with the effective

date of relocation of the Memphis VORTAC.

Incorporation by Reference

Jet route designations are published in paragraph 2004 of FAA Order

7400.9E, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 1997,

which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The jet route

designation listed in this document will be published subsequently in

the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse

or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule.

Effective August 13, 1998, the FAA will relocate the Memphis, TN,

VORTAC. Currently, J-66 is aligned on a radial of the Memphis VORTAC.

The Memphis VORTAC is scheduled to be relocated 2.85 miles south of its

present position; therefore, realigning J-66 is necessary to ensure

that air traffic operations are not interrupted. The jet route will be

realigned with the Memphis VORTAC at the new location. Unless a written

adverse or negative comment, or a written notice of intent to submit an

adverse or negative comment is received within the comment period, the

regulation will become effective on the date specified above. After the

close of the comment period, the FAA will publish a document in the

Federal Register indicating that no adverse or negative comments were

received and confirming the date on which the direct final rule will

become effective. If the FAA does receive, within the comment

[[Page 30381]]

period, an adverse or negative comment, or written notice of intent to

submit an adverse or negative comment, a document withdrawing the

direct final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a

notice of proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment

period.

Agency Findings

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct

effects on the States, on the relationship between the national

government and the States, or on the distribution of power and

responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final

rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is not controversial

and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments and only

involves an established body of technical regulations that require

frequent and routine amendments to keep them operationally current.

Therefore, this regulation (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) as the anticipated impact of this proposal is minimal,

preparation of a Regulatory Evaluation is not necessary.

Since this is a routine matter that will only affect air traffic

procedures and air navigation, the FAA certifies that this proposed

rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial

number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a direct final rule and was

not preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited

on this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by

submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire.

Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted

in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All

communications received on or before the specified closing date for

comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn

in light of comments received. Factual information that supports the

commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating

the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional

rulemaking action may be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of

the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for

comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A

report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the

substance of this action will be filed in the Rules Docket. Commenters

wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in

response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on

which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket

No. 97-ASO-28.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the

commenter.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part

71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND

CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24

FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

2. Amend paragraph 2004 of the Federal Aviation Administration

Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated

September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 1997, which is

incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1, as follows:

Paragraph 2004--Jet Routes

* * * * *

J-66 [Revised]

From Newman, TX; via Big Spring, TX; Abilene, TX; Ranger, TX;

Bonham, TX; Little Rock, AR; Memphis, TN; INT Memphis 100 deg. and

Rome, GA 284 deg. radials; to Rome.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 28, 1998.

John S. Walker,

Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.

[FR Doc. 98-14881 Filed 6-3-98; 8:45 am]

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