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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-06-09-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>2120-AJ90</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201110</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>2120</CODE>
            <NAME>Federal Aviation Administration</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>FAA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>2100</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Transportation</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DOT</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Effective Tether System (Tether Rule)</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This rulemaking would exempt tether launches from requiring FAA licensing or permitting by establishing new definitions and standards for tethered launches. A tethered launch is a system where the launch vehicle is physically constrained to a specified range from the launch point, which prevents the vehicle from leaving the protected hazard area. This would relieve the financial burden to both the launch vehicle operator and the FAA from the current requirement to evaluate the potential hazards for each tethered launch vehicle flight. This rulemaking would establish conservative technical and design criteria to prevent any launch vehicle tether system from structurally failing and from compromising the safety of public and private property.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>First Time Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>14 CFR 400</CFR>
            <CFR>14 CFR 401</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>49 USC 44701</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>04/00/2012</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <FURTHER_INFO_URL>www.regulations.gov</FURTHER_INFO_URL>
        <PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>www.regulations.gov</PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Felix</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Acon-chen</LAST_NAME>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>2120</CODE>
                    <NAME>Federal Aviation Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>FAA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 267-8406</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>felix.acon-chen@faa.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>800 Independence Avenue, SW,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20591</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
