Sec. 12. Streamline commercial space launch activities
618 words·~3 min read·
/bill/114/s/1297/rs/section-12A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that eliminating duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations will promote and encourage the development of the commercial space sector. Congress reaffirms that the Secretary of Transportation, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should— promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector; facilitate Government, State, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities; protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and consult with the head of another executive agency, including the Secretary of Defense or the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as necessary to provide consistent application of licensing requirements under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code.
The Secretary of Transportation under section 50918 of title 51, United States Code, and subject to section 50905(b)(2)(C) of that title, shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate— to identify all requirements that are imposed to protect the public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle; and to evaluate the requirements identified in subparagraph
(A)and, in coordination with the licensee or transferee and the heads of the relevant executive agencies— determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency; and resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the Secretary of Transportation determines no outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government exist, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the commercial space sector, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following: A description of the process for the application for and approval of a permit or license under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, for the commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, including the identification of— any unique requirements for operating on a United States Government launch site, reentry site, or launch property; and any inconsistent, outmoded, or duplicative requirements or approvals. A description of current efforts, if any, to coordinate and work across executive agencies to define interagency processes and procedures for sharing information, avoiding duplication of effort, and resolving common agency requirements. Recommendations for legislation that may further— streamline requirements in order to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, resolve inconsistencies, remove duplication, and minimize unwarranted constraints; and consolidate or modify requirements across affected agencies into a single application set that satisfies the requirements identified in paragraph (1)(A). For purposes of this subsection— any applicable definitions set forth in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, shall apply; the terms launch , reenter , and reentry include landing of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and the terms United States Government launch site and United States Government reentry site include any necessary facility, at that location, that is commercially operated on United States Government property.