[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25207-25208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11286]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Parts 401, 404, 413, 414, 415, 417, 420, 431, 433, 435, 437,
440, and 450
[Docket No.: FAA-2019-0229; Notice No. 19-01A]
RIN 2120-AL17
Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements; Extension
of Comment Period
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 April 15, 2019. In that document, the FAA proposed to
streamline and increase the flexibility in the FAA's commercial space
launch and reentry regulations. This action would consolidate and
revise multiple regulatory parts and apply a single set of licensing
and safety regulations across several types of operations and vehicles.
The FAA is extending the comment period closing date to allow
commenters time to adequately analyze the proposed rule and prepare
response.
DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published on April 15, 2019 at
84 FR 15296 and scheduled to close on June 14, 2019, is extended until
July 30, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by docket number FAA-2019-
0229 using any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions
for accessing the docket or Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the
West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralen Gao, ARM-209, Office of
Rulemaking, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-3168; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. The agency
also invites comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy,
or federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion
of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should
submit only one time.
The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before
the closing date for comments. The FAA
[[Page 25208]]
will consider comments filed after the comment period has closed if it
is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The agency may
change this proposal in light of the comments it receives.
B. Availability of Rulemaking Documents
An electronic copy of rulemaking documents may be obtained from the
internet by--
1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov);
2. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies web page at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies or
3. Accessing the Government Printing Office's web page at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/.
Copies may also be obtained by sending a request to the Federal
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, 800 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9680. Commenters must
identify the docket or notice number of this rulemaking.
All documents the FAA considered in developing this proposed rule,
including economic analyses and technical reports, may be accessed from
the internet through the Federal eRulemaking Portal referenced in item
(1) above.
Background
On March 26, 2019, the FAA posted a draft copy of the NPRM entitled
``Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements'' on its
website for public preview. On April 15, 2019, this rule, containing
minimal changes, was published as Notice No. 19-01 in the Federal
Register (84 FR 15296). Commenters were instructed to provide comments
on or before June 14, 2019.
Since publication, fifty-six commenters \1\ have requested an
extension of the comment period to a total of 120 days, or until August
13, 2019, citing the proposed rule's breadth, significant impact,
length, and complexity. The commenters stated a longer time frame is
necessary in order to fully review the proposed rule and develop
comments and recommendations.
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\1\ The commenters are Aerospace Industries Association (AIA),
Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI), Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association (AOPA), Airlines for America, Airports Council
International--North America (ACI), Air Line Pilots Association
(ALPA), American Association of Airline Executives (AAAE), Arete
STEM Foundation, Arizona State University, Atomos Space, Axiom, Blue
Origins, Colorado Air and Space Port, Exos Aerospace, Generation
Orbit, Houston Space Port, Heinlein Prize Trust, Johns Hopkins
University, InterFlight Global Corporation, Leo Aerospace, Maxar
Technologies, Midland International Air & Space Port, Misty Harbor
HOA, MLA Space, Mojave Air & Space Port, Momentus, Moon Express,
National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), New Mexico
Spaceport Authority, Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics,
Quest for Stars, Regional Airline Association (RAA), Sierra Nevada
Corporation, Spaceport Strategies LLC, SpaceX, Space Angels, Space
Florida, Spaceport Camden, SpinLaunch, Southwest Research Institute,
TeamHealth Healthcare Staffing, Techshot, TIP Technologies, Vector
Launch, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Orbit, World View, Xplore Inc., and
various members of the public.
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The FAA agrees with the petitioners' request for an extension of
the comment period. It recognizes the content of the proposed rule is
significant and complex, and that an extension would help commenters
craft complete and thoughtful responses. Because the rule was posted on
the FAA's website 20 days prior to its publication in the Federal
Register, the FAA is extending the comment period an additional 45
days. With this extension, the comment period will now close on July
30, 2019. This will provide the public with a total of 125 days to
conduct its review.
The FAA does not anticipate any further extension of the comment
period for this rulemaking.
Extension of Comment Period
In accordance with Sec. 11.47(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions for extension of the
comment period for this notice. The petitioners have shown a
substantive interest in the proposed policy and good cause for the
extension of the comment period. The FAA has determined that an
extension of the comment period for an additional 45 days to July 30,
2019, is consistent with the public interest, and that good cause
exists for taking this action.
Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 19-01 is extended
until July 30, 2019.
Issued under authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 44701(a),
and 44703 in Washington, DC, on May 24, 2019.
Lirio Liu,
Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2019-11286 Filed 5-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P