The US Department of Transportation proposed to withdraw commercial space rocket launch licenses 13 federal laws on environmental protection, in particular, the Law on National Environmental Policy (NEPA), Law on Endangered Species, Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.
By virtue of his powers, the Minister of Transport can waive any requirements, which are not critical for national security, health or safety of people. To do this, it is enough for him to hold consultations with the heads of relevant departments - this is what the new initiative is based on.
WITH 30 a 30-day period of public discussion begins in July, after which the FAA will prepare a final document.
The proposal is the implementation of the decree of the US President Donald Trump from August 2024 year, aimed at eliminating regulatory obstacles in issuing licenses for launches and returns of spacecraft. Industry association Federation CSF (Commercial Space Federation) supported the initiative, expecting to accelerate licensing and reduce the regulatory burden. Environmental organizations, in particular, the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed categorical disagreement. Practice shows, that environmental reviews rarely block projects, however, they are significantly delayed. An example is the Starship site in Boca Chica, where the environmental impact assessment procedure was repeatedly postponed.
For reference: CSF Federation (Commercial Space Federation) is the leading US private space sector association, which includes such companies, like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic and others. She is engaged in lobbying the interests of the private space industry, development of safety standards and regulatory regulation.
Source: https://spacenews.com