The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing changes for the commercial space industry that would streamline licensing for rocket launches, spacecraft reentries and spaceports by exempting certain projects from a range of federal environmental review requirements.
The change, announced in a proposed rule Tuesday, would allow the FAA “to waive unnecessary environmental laws and regulations that are slowing American innovation,” DOT said in a press release Tuesday.
Specifically, it would allow the FAA to waive requirements under 13 federal environmental and natural resource laws — including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and portions of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts — for qualifying commercial space licenses and permits.
“Requirements that are needed to protect public health and safety, property, national security, or U.S. foreign policy interests would not be impacted,” DOT said.
