FAA requests environmental law waivers for spaceflight

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has requested rule changes that would allow for waivers of certain environmental requirements related to spaceflight launches, reentry, and vehicle recovery.

If granted, the proposed changes would subject 13 federal environmental laws to potential waivers. These include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act. The request also extends to regulations concerning historic preservation, marine mammal programs, fisheries, marine sanctuaries, and the protection of rivers and harbors.

The FAA has clarified that these requested rule variances would not automatically waive or suspend the stipulations of these acts, but would instead allow each specific situation to be studied and evaluated through a more specialized process.