Financial Responsibility Requirements for Licensed Reentry Activities

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 1999)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 69628] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-32272]

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Part IV

Department of Transportation

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Federal Aviation Administration

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14 CFR Part 450

Financial Responsibility Requirements for Licensed Reentry Activities; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 238 / Monday, December 13, 1999 / Proposed Rules

[[Page 69628]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 450

[Docket No. FAA-1999-6265; Notice 99-17] RIN 2120-AG76

Financial Responsibility Requirements for Licensed Reentry Activities

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is soliciting comments on proposed financial responsibility and allocation of risk requirements for reentry activities carried out under an FAA license. An additional comment period extending through January 21, 2000, on the notice of proposed rulemaking published October 6, 1999 at 64 FR 54448-54472, is provided for this purpose.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this document should be mailed or delivered, in duplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No. FAA-1999-6265, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room Plaza 401, Washington, DC 20590. Comments may be filed and examined in room Plaza 401 between 10:00 and 5 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays. Comments also may be sent electronically to the Dockets Management System (DMS) at the following Internet address, using the instructions indicated at that web site: http://dms.dot.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Esta M. Rosenberg, Attorney- Advisor, Regulations Division, Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (202) 366- 9320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On October 6, 1999, the FAA's Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled, ``Financial Responsibility Requirements for Licensed Reentry Activities'' (Notice No. 99-17, 64 FR 54448-54472). The NPRM solicited comments on the FAA's approach to implementing and assuring compliance with financial responsibility requirements for licensed reentry activities. Comments were solicited for a 60-day period, with a docket closing date of December 6, 1999. The FAA received two requests for an extension of time of 60 days in which to submit comments on the NPRM. One request was submitted by the Chairman, risk Management Working Group of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). A second request was submitted jointly by three aerospace companies. The requests were based on the need for additional time to analyze issues raised by the NPRM in the interest of developing more focused, thoughtful and responsive comments.

Additional Comment Period

The comment period closed on December 6, 1999, which prevented an extension. In order to allow interested members of the public additional time for a more thorough review of issues and drafting of responsive comments, the FAA finds that it is in the public interest to reopen the comment period. Accordingly, the comment period is reopened through January 21, 2000. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable. However, no further extension of the comment period is contemplated.

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6, 1999. Joseph A. Hawkins, Deputy Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation. [FR Doc. 99-32272 Filed 12-9-99; 9:56 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-M