What Happened
Regulatory Overhaul May Streamline Environmental Assessments
The FCC is set to vote on a proposal to waive National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews for space-based operations, which could significantly impact the regulatory landscape for the commercial space industry. The draft order would categorize space-based operations as not requiring environmental review, a move that may be seen as a deregulatory effort. The FAA has also proposed waiving NEPA for commercial space licenses, indicating a broader trend towards streamlining environmental assessments. This development was first reported by an unknown source.