[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 140 (Monday, July 22, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35051-35052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15465]


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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]


Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements; Notice of 
Availability and Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The FAA announces the availability of the FAA's first set of 
clarifications to commenters' questions regarding the Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Streamlined Launch and Reentry 
Licensing Requirements,'' which published in the Federal Register on 
April 15, 2019; a due date for submitting clarifying questions; and an 
extension of the comment period to allow commenters sufficient time to 
review the FAA's clarifications.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on April 15, 
2019 at 84 FR 15296 is extended from July 30, 2019, to August 19, 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: For questions concerning this action, 
contact Randy Repcheck, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 205914; telephone (202) 267-8760; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 15, 2019, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing 
Requirements (SLR2).'' \1\ In that NPRM, the FAA proposed streamlining 
and increasing flexibility in the FAA's commercial space regulations 
and removing obsolete requirements. The 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 proposed rule would describe the requirements to obtain a vehicle 
operator license, the safety requirements, and the terms and conditions 
of a vehicle operator license.
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    \1\ 84 FR 15296 (April 15, 2019).
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    Subsequent to its publication, the FAA received requests from the 
industry to hold a public meeting or reconvene the SLR2 Aviation 
Rulemaking Committee, as a means to further engage with the industry 
regarding the NPRM. In response, on June 14, 2019, the FAA posted a 
document to the docket entitled, ``Ex Parte Correspondence to Michael 
Lopez-Algeria, MLA Space, LLC.'' \2\ In this document, the FAA stated 
that, in place of a public meeting, it will accept written questions 
seeking clarification on specific parts of the NPRM.
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    \2\ FAA-2019-0229-0088.

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[[Page 35052]]

Notice of Availability

    The FAA has received questions seeking clarification from several 
entities. The FAA has reviewed the questions it has received to date 
and, on July 16, 2019, posted its first set of clarifying responses to 
the docket. The FAA notes that it has responded to those questions for 
which clarification was appropriate. The FAA concluded that some 
questions constituted comments to the proposal, and it will consider 
those comments in the development of the final rule. The FAA may post 
additional clarifications between now and the close of the comment 
period, as appropriate, and advises commenters to review the docket 
periodically for these clarifications.

Due Date for Submitting Clarifying Questions

    The deadline for submitting clarifying questions is July 29, 2019.

Extension of the Comment Period

    The FAA recognizes that the public will benefit from adequate time 
to review the FAA's clarifications. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
11.47(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, the FAA is extending 
the comment period for an additional 20 days to August 19, 2019.
    Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 19-01 is extended 
until August 19, 2019.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 16, 2019.
Brandon Roberts,
Acting Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2019-15465 Filed 7-19-19; 8:45 am]
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