[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36027-36028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17451]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 401, 411, 413, 415 and 417

[Docket No. 28851; Notice 97-2A]
RIN 2120-AF99


Commercial Space Transportation Licensing Regulations

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: A proposed rule was published on March 19, 1997 (53 FR

[[Page 36028]]

13216) with a 60-day comment period. This document announces that the 
comment period for the proposal to amend the licensing regulations for 
launching commercial launch vehicles is reopened. That comment period 
closed on May 19, 1997. In response to industry requests that more time 
be provided for comment development, the comment period is reopened.

DATES: The comment period is reopened from July 3, 1997 through August 
4, 1997.

ADDRESSES: An original plus four copies of comments on this NPRM should 
be mailed to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket (AGC-200), 800 Independence Avenue, 
SW, Washington, DC 20591. Comments may also be sent electronically to 
the Rules Docket by using the following Internet address: 9-nprm-
[email protected]. All comments must be market Docket 28851. Comments 
may be examined Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, between 
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Room 915F.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
J. Randall Repcheck, Commercial Space Transportation, AST-200, (202) 
366-2258 or Laura Montgomery, Office of the Chief Counsel, AGC-200, 
(202) 267-8018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice No. 97-2 was published on March 19, 
1997 [53 FR 13216]. This Notice, as published, provided a 60-day 
comment period which closed May 19, 1997.

Background

    The Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space 
Transportation carries out the Secretary's responsibility (Commercial 
Space Launch Act of 1984, as amended, codified at 49 U.S.C. Subtitle 
IX, ch. 701, Commercial Space Launch Activities) for licensing 
launches, and encouraging, facilitating and promoting commercial space 
launches by the private sector, 49 U.S.C. Sec. 70103.
    After six years of experience in regulating the commercial space 
industry, the Office initiated a process for standardizing its 
licensing regulations. Over the course of time, and with the input of 
licensees and Federal launch ranges, the Office has evolved a 
standardized approach to licensing launches from Federal launch ranges. 
Accordingly, the Office now proposes to implement that approach through 
revisions to its regulations. Notice 97-2 proposes to amend licensing 
regulations for launching commercial launch vehicles. The proposed 
regulations are intended to provide applicants and licensees greater 
specificity and clarity regarding the scope of a license, and regarding 
licensing requirements and criteria.

Reopen Comment Period

    On May 19, 1997, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, and 
other major U.S. commercial space launch industry participants 
requested that the comment period be extended beyond May 19, 1997 to 
allow interested parties to submit additional comments and/or 
clarifications to complex issues in the Notice. Industry states that in 
light of the detail needed to respond accurately, an extension is 
needed.
    The comment period closed on May 19, 1997, which prevented an 
extension. To allow industry additional time for a more thorough review 
of applicable issues and drafting of responsive comments, the FAA finds 
that it is in the public interest to reopen the comment period for an 
additional 30 days. Accordingly, the FAA is reopening the comment 
period July 3, 1997 through August 4, 1997.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 27, 1997.
Patti Grace Smith,
Acting Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 97-17451 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]
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