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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>2120-AF99</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>199704</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>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>Licensing Commercial Space Launch Activities</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[The Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, as amended, grants the Department of Transportation authority to license and otherwise regulate commercial launches and the commercial operation of launch sites. In accordance with this authority, delegated to the FAA, the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) must ensure that commercial space launch activities are conducted in a manner that does not jeopardize public health and safety and the safety of property, without imposing unnecessary regulatory burdens on the commercial launch industry. The industry has grown in size and complexity since the original regulations were published in 1988, and AST's licensing program continues to evolve to reflect these changes. This rulemaking would modify the current regulations to reflect a streamlined and more mature licensing regime developed over the past few years. Such changes would benefit the industry by reducing regulatory burdens, thus reducing costs. This rulemaking is significant because of substantial public interest.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>14 CFR 400 to 415</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>49 USC 70101 to 70119</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[On April 4, 1988, the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST) published final regulations for licensing commercial space launch activities. The regulations include general administrative procedures as well as revised and expanded policies for licensing commercial launch activities. The industry has grown in size and complexity since the licensing regulations were first published in 1988. As a result, the FAA's Associate Administrator for Commercing Space Tax has continued to refine its approach to licensing launch proposals in a manner that facilitates private sector launch activities. This rulemaking would modify the current regulations to reflect a more efficient licensing regime. In addition, a future rulemaking currently under development by the FAA will address the procedures and requirements applicable to the licensing of commercial launch site operators.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[The Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, as amended, 49 USC 70101 to 70119, confers upon the Department of Transportation the responsibility to license and otherwise regulate launches by the private sector of launch vehicles and the commercial operation of launch sites. The FAA's Assoc. Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation carries out this responsibility for ensuring that these commercial launch activities do not jeopardize public health and safety, the safety of property, and national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[No alternatives were considered. the FAA is required under U.S.C. 70101-70119 to review and act upon applications for licenses to conduct commercial launches. The Act does not permit the FAA to follow alternative approaches in carrying out this responsibility. Therefore, although this rulemaking will make further refinements to the licensing process, the basic regulatory approach will not change.]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[The rule should impose no additional costs on the commercial space transportation industry. By streamlining the licensing process that is already in place, the rule should benefit the industry by reducing the regulatory burden. The rule should benefit the FAA by establishing a more efficient licensing mechanism, thereby reducing staff time.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[The Assistant Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation of the FAA must ensure that commercial space launch activities do not jeopardize public health and safety and the safety of property and also ensure compliance with international obligations of the United States. Although the historical safety record of government and commercial launch firms is excellent, significant risks or hazards are presented by the launch of launch vehicles. Risks or hazards include possible explosions and fires involving liquid or solid rocket propellants and ordnance, as well as the generation of launch vehicle and payload debris. Launch accidents, including in-flight failures of guidance or destruction systems, may result in injury to launch personnel and the public and in damages to or loss of government and private property. The potential maximum probable loss for injuries and damages from a single launch typically is in the tens of millions of dollars. The FAA's licensing process, in conjunction with U.S. Government launch facilities' range safety control procedures, are directed at ensuring that these launch activities do not jeopardize public safety or U.S. national interests. In addition, the FAA imposes financial responsibility requirements on licensees to protect the public and the government, pursuant to the 1988 amendments to the Commercial Space Launch Act.]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Public Meeting Notice and Request for Comments</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>10/13/1994</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>59 FR 52020</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Extended Comment Period End 12/16/94</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/05/1994</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>59 FR 62359</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>03/19/1997</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>62 FR 13216</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>10/00/1997</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <ADDITIONAL_INFO>This action first appeared in the Agenda under RIN 2105-AB85. However, it was transferred from the Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation, to the Federal Aviation Administration due to Transfer of Delegations. See 60 FR 62762, December 7, 1995, for information of the delegation. ^PProject Number: AST-96-142R. ^PANALYSIS:  Regulatory Evaluation, 03/19/97, 62 FR 13216</ADDITIONAL_INFO>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <PRINT_PAPER>NA</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>Not Collected</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Patricia</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Smith</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>Grace</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Acting Associate Administrator for, Commercial Space Transportation</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>2120</CODE>
                    <NAME>Federal Aviation Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>FAA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 366-2937</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>400 Seventh Street SW.,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20590</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
        <REINVENT_GOVT>Revising Text to Reduce Burden or Duplication, or Streamline Requirements</REINVENT_GOVT>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
