81_FR_59608 81 FR 59440 - Commercial Space Transportation Reusable Launch Vehicle and Reentry Licensing Regulations; Technical Amendment

81 FR 59440 - Commercial Space Transportation Reusable Launch Vehicle and Reentry Licensing Regulations; Technical Amendment

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 168 (August 30, 2016)

Page Range59440-59440
FR Document2016-20815

The FAA is publishing this action to correct minor, editorial errors in chapter III, part 431. The errors occurred in the Commercial Space Transportation Reusable Launch Vehicle and Reentry Licensing Regulations final rule, published in the Federal Register on September 19, 2000. That final rule amended commercial space transportation regulations for the launch and reentry of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) to establish operational requirements for launches of RLVs and to implement the FAA's reentry licensing authority by prescribing requirements for obtaining a license to launch and reenter an RLV, to reenter a reentry vehicle, and to operate a reentry site. In that final rule, the FAA inadvertently made minor errors, which this technical amendment corrects.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 168 (Tuesday, August 30, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 30, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 59440]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20815]



[[Page 59440]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 431

[Docket No. FAA-1999-5535; Amdt. No. 431-5]
RIN 2120-AG71


Commercial Space Transportation Reusable Launch Vehicle and 
Reentry Licensing Regulations; Technical Amendment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is publishing this action to correct minor, editorial 
errors in chapter III, part 431. The errors occurred in the Commercial 
Space Transportation Reusable Launch Vehicle and Reentry Licensing 
Regulations final rule, published in the Federal Register on September 
19, 2000. That final rule amended commercial space transportation 
regulations for the launch and reentry of reusable launch vehicles 
(RLVs) to establish operational requirements for launches of RLVs and 
to implement the FAA's reentry licensing authority by prescribing 
requirements for obtaining a license to launch and reenter an RLV, to 
reenter a reentry vehicle, and to operate a reentry site. In that final 
rule, the FAA inadvertently made minor errors, which this technical 
amendment corrects.

DATES: Effective August 30, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this action 
contact Stewart Jackson, Regulations and Analysis Division, AST-300, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-7903; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Good Cause for Immediate Adoption Without Prior Notice

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and 
comment procedures for rules when the agency for ``good cause'' finds 
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without seeking comment prior to the 
rulemaking.
    Section 553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act requires that 
agencies publish a rule not less than 30 days before its effective 
date, except as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found 
and published with the rule.
    This document corrects errors in 14 CFR 431.79. These corrections 
will not impose any additional restrictions on the persons affected by 
these regulations. Furthermore, any additional delay in making the 
regulations correct would be contrary to the public interest. 
Accordingly, the FAA finds that (i) public comment on these standards 
prior to promulgation is unnecessary, and (ii) good cause exists to 
make this rule effective in less than 30 days.

Background

    On September 19, 2000, the FAA published the ``Commercial Space 
Transportation Reusable Launch Vehicle and Reentry Licensing 
Regulations; Final Rule'' (65 FR 56618). The final rule amended 
commercial space transportation regulations governing the launch and 
reentry of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) to establish operational 
requirements for launches of RLVs and to implement the FAA's reentry 
licensing authority by prescribing requirements for obtaining a license 
to launch and reenter an RLV, to reenter a reentry vehicle, and to 
operate a reentry site. Licensing rules are necessary to respond to 
advancements in the development of commercial RLV and reentry 
capability. The action was necessary to fulfill the FAA's safety 
mandate by limiting risk to the public from RLV and reentry operations.
    The final rule contains a more complete discussion of the rule and 
the events leading up to it.

Technical Amendment

    The technical amendment makes the following correction:
    (1) In Sec.  431.79(a)(3), the duplicate text ``federal'' is 
removed and the phrase ``for at'' is changed to ``from''.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 431

    Aviation safety, Environmental protection, Investigations, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Space transportation and 
exploration.

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends chapter III of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations as follows:

PART 431--LAUNCH AND REENTRY OF A REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE (RLV)

0
1. The authority citation of part 431 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 51 U.S.C. 50901-50923.


Sec.  431.79  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  431.79(a)(3) by removing the duplicate text ``federal'' 
and by removing the phrase ``for at'' and adding in its place ``from''.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 23, 2016.
Dale Bouffiou,
Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2016-20815 Filed 8-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

59440 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2016 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION that agencies publish a rule not less Authority: 51 U.S.C. 50901–50923. than 30 days before its effective date, § 431.79 [Amended] Federal Aviation Administration except as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and ■ 2. Amend § 431.79(a)(3) by removing 14 CFR Part 431 published with the rule. the duplicate text ‘‘federal’’ and by This document corrects errors in 14 removing the phrase ‘‘for at’’ and adding [Docket No. FAA–1999–5535; Amdt. No. 431–5] CFR 431.79. These corrections will not in its place ‘‘from’’. impose any additional restrictions on Issued in Washington, DC, on August 23, RIN 2120–AG71 the persons affected by these 2016. regulations. Furthermore, any additional Dale Bouffiou, Commercial Space Transportation delay in making the regulations correct Reusable Launch Vehicle and Reentry Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking. would be contrary to the public interest. Licensing Regulations; Technical Accordingly, the FAA finds that (i) [FR Doc. 2016–20815 Filed 8–29–16; 8:45 am] Amendment public comment on these standards BILLING CODE 4910–13–P AGENCY: Federal Aviation prior to promulgation is unnecessary, Administration, DOT. and (ii) good cause exists to make this ACTION: Final rule; technical rule effective in less than 30 days. MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE amendment. CORPORATION Background SUMMARY: The FAA is publishing this On September 19, 2000, the FAA 22 CFR Part 1306 action to correct minor, editorial errors published the ‘‘Commercial Space [MCC FR 16–03] in chapter III, part 431. The errors Transportation Reusable Launch occurred in the Commercial Space Vehicle and Reentry Licensing Collection of Debts Transportation Reusable Launch Regulations; Final Rule’’ (65 FR 56618). Vehicle and Reentry Licensing The final rule amended commercial AGENCY: Millennium Challenge Regulations final rule, published in the space transportation regulations Corporation. Federal Register on September 19, 2000. governing the launch and reentry of ACTION: Final rule. That final rule amended commercial reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) to space transportation regulations for the establish operational requirements for SUMMARY: The purpose of these launch and reentry of reusable launch launches of RLVs and to implement the regulations is to implement statutes vehicles (RLVs) to establish operational FAA’s reentry licensing authority by which authorize the collection of debts requirements for launches of RLVs and prescribing requirements for obtaining a owed to the Federal government, by to implement the FAA’s reentry license to launch and reenter an RLV, to persons, organizations, or entities licensing authority by prescribing reenter a reentry vehicle, and to operate including by salary offset, requirements for obtaining a license to a reentry site. Licensing rules are administrative offset, or tax refund launch and reenter an RLV, to reenter a necessary to respond to advancements offset. Generally, however, a debt may reentry vehicle, and to operate a reentry in the development of commercial RLV not be collected by such means if it has site. In that final rule, the FAA and reentry capability. The action was been outstanding for more than ten inadvertently made minor errors, which necessary to fulfill the FAA’s safety years after the agency’s right to collect this technical amendment corrects. mandate by limiting risk to the public the debt first accrued. These regulations from RLV and reentry operations. are consistent with the Office of DATES: Effective August 30, 2016. The final rule contains a more Personnel Management regulations on FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For complete discussion of the rule and the salary offset, and with regulations on questions concerning this action contact events leading up to it. administrative offset. Persons with Stewart Jackson, Regulations and access to the internet may also view this Analysis Division, AST–300, Federal Technical Amendment document by going to the Aviation Administration, 800 The technical amendment makes the regulations.gov Web site at: http:// Independence Avenue SW., following correction: www.regulations.gov/index.cfm. Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) (1) In § 431.79(a)(3), the duplicate text DATES: This rule is effective September 267–7903; email stewart.jackson@ ‘‘federal’’ is removed and the phrase 24, 2016. faa.gov. ‘‘for at’’ is changed to ‘‘from’’. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 431 by any of the following methods: Good Cause for Immediate Adoption Aviation safety, Environmental Email: Leussinglm@mcc.gov. Without Prior Notice protection, Investigations, Reporting Mail paper submissions to the Office and recordkeeping requirements, Space of the General Counsel, Millennium Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the transportation and exploration. Challenge Corporation, 1099 Fourteenth Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 Street NW., Washington, DC 20005. U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies The Amendment to dispense with notice and comment FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: In consideration of the foregoing, the Laura M. Leussing, Office of the General procedures for rules when the agency Federal Aviation Administration for ‘‘good cause’’ finds that those Counsel, Millennium Challenge amends chapter III of title 14, Code of Corporation, telephone 202–521–3680. procedures are ‘‘impracticable, Federal Regulations as follows: mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES unnecessary, or contrary to the public SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Debt interest.’’ Under this section, an agency, PART 431—LAUNCH AND REENTRY Collection Improvement Act (DCIA), 31 upon finding good cause, may issue a OF A REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE U.S.C. 3720B to 3720E, Public Law 104– final rule without seeking comment (RLV) 134, enacted April 26, 1996) and the prior to the rulemaking. Federal Claims Collection Standards, 31 Section 553(d)(3) of the ■ 1. The authority citation of part 431 U.S.C. 3701 et seq., require the Administrative Procedure Act requires continues to read as follows: government to collect money it is owed. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:58 Aug 29, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\30AUR1.SGM 30AUR1


Document Created: 2018-02-09 11:42:23
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 11:42:23
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule; technical amendment.
DatesEffective August 30, 2016.
ContactFor questions concerning this action contact Stewart Jackson, Regulations and Analysis Division, AST-300, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-7903; email [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 59440 
RIN Number2120-AG71
CFR AssociatedAviation Safety; Environmental Protection; Investigations; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Space Transportation and Exploration
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