Commercial Space Transportation Safety Act of 2019
This bill authorizes the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate a commercial space transportation accident in which there is (1) a known impact of a commercial launch vehicle, the payload of such vehicle, or any component thereof outside of the hazard area designated for the launch or reentry of such vehicle; (2) a fatality or significant injury of any individual, regardless of whether the individual was on board the commercial launch vehicle at the time of the accident; or (3) substantial damage to property that is not associated with commercial space launch activities and that is not located at the launch site.
The NTSB shall seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with any government agency with the authority to certify a commercial space transportation operation to delineate the conditions under which a commercial space transportation accident will be investigated by such agency rather than by the NTSB.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1562 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1562
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide certain authority to
the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate commercial
space transportation accidents, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2019
Mr. Graves of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr.
Graves of Missouri, and Mr. DeFazio) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide certain authority to
the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate commercial
space transportation accidents, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Commercial Space Transportation
Safety Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD.
(a) In General.--Section 1131(a)(1) of title 49, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) a commercial space transportation accident in which
there is--
``(i) a known impact of a commercial launch
vehicle, the payload of such vehicle, or any component
thereof outside of the hazard area designated for the
launch or reentry of such vehicle;
``(ii) a fatality or significant injury of any
individual, regardless of whether the individual was on
board the commercial launch vehicle at the time of the
accident; or
``(iii) substantial damage to property that is not
associated with commercial space launch activities and
that is not located at the launch site; and''.
(b) Other Investigative Agencies.--Section 1131(a)(2) of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(D) The Board shall seek to enter into a memorandum of
understanding with any Government agency with the authority to certify
a commercial space transportation operation. Such memoranda shall
delineate the conditions under which a commercial space transportation
accident that may be investigated by the Board under subparagraph (F)
or (G) of paragraph (1) will instead be investigated by the other
Government agency. Such memoranda may not preclude the Board's
participation in the other Government agency's investigation.''.
(c) Savings Provision.--None of the amendments made by subsection
(a) shall be construed to limit the authority of the National
Transportation Safety Board to investigate any other commercial space
transportation accident that, in the judgement of the Board, falls
under the authority of the Board under section 1131(a)(1)(G) (as
redesignated by this Act).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
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