OMB files this
comment in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.11( c ). This OMB action is
not an approval to conduct or sponsor an information collection
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This action has no
effect on any current approvals. If OMB has assigned this ICR a new
OMB Control Number, the OMB Control Number will not appear in the
active inventory. For future submissions of this information
collection, reference the OMB Control Number provided. Prior to
publication of the final rule, the agency should provide to OMB a
summary of all comments received on the proposed information
collection and identify any changes made in response to these
comments.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
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The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space
Transportation (AST) uses the information to ensure commercial
space activities in the United States, or conducted by United
States citizens abroad, do not unduly jeopardize the public health
and safety, safety of property, or national security or foreign
policy interests of the United States. AST uses the data to assess
the risk to public health and safety, and the safety of property.
Risk must remain within the limits set in FAA regulations. AST
shares other information with government partners (e.g., NASA, DOD,
Department of State) during payload and policy reviews to ensure
the proposed activities do not present unacceptable national
security or foreign policy implications for the United States. The
FAA collects information before and after the issuance of a vehicle
operator license. An applicant's license proposal is assessed in
terms of significant policy issues affecting the national security,
foreign policy interests, or international obligations of the
United States. Information collected allows AST to make a
preliminary assessment of a proposed launch or reentry prior to
beginning general licensing application procedures. After favorable
review by AST of an applicant’s proposal in terms of policy
implications, the applicant must demonstrate that it can safely
launch, including with a payload if any, or reenter its vehicle. To
this end, AST’s safety evaluation process requires an applicant to
submit information that includes a description of its system safety
program, hazard control strategy, and mishap response plan. Also,
operators must meet preflight and post-flight reporting
requirements. Additionally, Article IV of the 1975 Convention on
Registration of Objects Launched Into Outer Space (Registration of
Space Objects), to which the United States is a signatory, requires
details about the orbit of each space object. To meet this
obligation, the FAA requires operators to register with AST the
name and mission of any payload. Further, according to the
requirements of the National Environmental Policies Act, 42 U.S.C.
§ 4321, et. seq., (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, 40
CFR Parts 1500-1508, and the DOT's Procedures for Considering
Environmental Impacts, (that is, DOT Order 5610.1C), applicants
must submit environmental information to AST. This includes
information concerning proposed new launch or reentry sites and
launch or reentry vehicles not currently described in the
environmental impact statements, as well as payloads that may have
significant environmental impacts if a launch or reentry accident
occurs.
The estimated annual number of
applications has been increased and annual salary figures have been
updated from the previous submission, resulting in changes to cost
burden estimates. The FAA has separated collection activity into
appropriate information collections, there has not been additional
forms or applications added.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.