[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10979-10980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4378]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 413, 415 and 417

[Docket No. FAA-2000-7953; Notice No. 00-10]
RIN 2120-AG37


Licensing and Safety Requirements for Launch

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was 
published on October 25, 2000. In that document, the FAA proposed to 
amend its regulations to codify its license application process for 
launch from a non-federal launch site, and to codify its safety 
requirements for all licensed launches. This extension is a result of 
requests from International Launch Services, Lockheed Martin 
Corporation, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Sea Launch Company, LLC and 
The Boeing Company to extend the comment period to the proposal.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this document should be mailed or delivered, in 
duplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No. 
FAA-2000-7953, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room Plaza 401, Washington, DC 
20590. Comments may be filed and examined in Room Plaza 401, 
Washington, DC 20590. Comments may be filed and examined in Room Plaza 
401 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays. 
Comments also may be sent electronically to the Dockets Management 
System (DMS) at the following Internet address: http://dms.dot.gov at 
any time. Commenters who wish to file comments electronically, should 
follow the instructions on the DMS web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Dook, Licensing and Safety 
Division (AST-200), Associate Administrator for Commercial Space 
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, DOT, Room 331, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-
8462; or Laura Montgomery, Office of the Chief Counsel (AGC-200), 
Federal Aviation Administration, DOT, Room 915, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. 
Comments relating to the environmental, energy, federalism, or economic 
impact that might result from adopting the proposals in this document 
are also invited. Substantive comments should be accompanied by cost 
estimates. Comments should identify the regulatory docket or notice 
number and should be submitted in duplicate to the Rules Docket address 
specified above.
    All comments received, as well as a report summarizing each 
substantive public contact with FAA personnel on this rulemaking, will 
be filed in the docket. The docket is available for public inspection 
before and after the comment closing date.
    The Administrator will consider all comments received on or before 
the closing date before taking action on this proposed rulemaking. 
Comments filed late will be considered as far as possible without 
incurring expense or delay. The proposals contained in this rulemaking 
may be changed in light of the comments received.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must include a pre-addressed, 
stamped postcard with those comments on which the following statement 
is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2000-7953.'' The postcard will be 
date stamped and mailed to the commenters.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy is available on the Internet by taking the 
following steps:
    (1) Go to the search function of the Department of Transportation's 
electronic Docket Management System (DMS) Web page (hhtp://http://dms.dot.gov/search">dms.dot.gov/search).
    (2) On the search page type in the last four digits of the Docket 
number shown at the beginning of this notice. Click on ``search.''
    (3) On the next page, which contains the Docket summary information 
for the Docket selected, click on the proposed rule.
    An electronic copy is also available on the Internet through FAA's 
web page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm or the Federal 
Register's web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su__docs/aces/
aces140.html.
    Further, a copy may be obtained by submitting a written request to 
the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-
9680. Make sure to identify the notice number or docket number of this 
proposed rule.

Background

    The Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation of 
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation 
(DOT), published a notice proposing to amend the FAA's commercial space 
transportation regulations (October 25, 2000, 65 FR 63921). The FAA 
proposes to amend its regulations to codify its license application 
process for launch from a non-federal launch site. A non-federal launch 
site is a launch site not located on a federal launch range. The 
proposed regulations are also intended to codify the safety 
requirements for launch operators regarding license requirements, 
criteria, and responsibilities in order to protect the public from the 
hazards of launch for launch from a federal launch range or a non-
federal launch site.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec. 404.13 of Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions made by International 
Launch Services, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Orbital Sciences 
Corporation, Sea Launch Company, LLC and The Boeing Company for 
extension of the comment period to Notice No. 00-10. These petitioners 
jointly requested an extension of time of 180 days to permit more time 
to address substantial issues in the notice of proposed rulemaking. To 
allow additional time for a more thorough review of applicable issues 
and drafting of responsive comments, the FAA finds that there is good 
cause and it is in the public interest to extend the comment period for 
an additional 60 days beyond the 120 already provided. Accordingly, the 
comment period for Notice No. 00-10 is extended until April 23, 2001.


[[Page 10980]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 15, 2001.
Patricia Grace Smith,
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 01-4378 Filed 2-20-01; 8:45 am]
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