51 U.S.C. § 50919 Relationship to Other Executive Agencies, Laws, and International Obligations

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 51 U.S.C. § 50919

(a) EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.-Except as provided in this chapter, a person is not required to obtain from an executive agency a license, approval, waiver, or exemption to launch a launch vehicle or operate a launch site or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle.

(b) FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.-This chapter does not affect the authority of-

(1) the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or

(2) the Secretary of Commerce under chapter 601 of this title.

(c) STATES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.-A State or political subdivision of a State-

(1) may not adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order inconsistent with this chapter; but

(2) may adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order consistent with this chapter that is in addition to or more stringent than a requirement of, or regulation prescribed under, this chapter.

(d) CONSULTATION.-The Secretary of Transportation is encouraged to consult with a State to simplify and expedite the approval of a space launch or reentry activity.

(e) FOREIGN COUNTRIES.-The Secretary of Transportation shall-

(1) carry out this chapter consistent with an obligation the United States Government assumes in a treaty, convention, or agreement in force between the Government and the government of a foreign country; and

(2) consider applicable laws and requirements of a foreign country when carrying out this chapter.

(f) LAUNCH NOT AN EXPORT; REENTRY NOT AN IMPORT.-A launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or payload that is launched or reentered is not, because of the launch or reentry, an export or import, respectively, for purposes of a law controlling exports or imports, except that payloads launched pursuant to foreign trade zone procedures as provided for under the Foreign Trade Zones Act ( 19 U.S.C. 81a-81u ) shall be considered exports with regard to customs entry.

(g) NONAPPLICATION.-

(1) IN GENERAL.-This chapter does not apply to-

(A) a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or

(B) planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity under subparagraph (A).

(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.-The following activities are not space activities the Government carries out for the Government under paragraph (1):