Don Young: “I do hope my good friend on the committee will not raise the point of order. The background for this amendment, the…”

“I do hope my good friend on the committee will not raise the point of order. The background for this amendment, the National Environmental Protection Act, requires involvement of Federal agencies when activities constitute a major Federal action. Commercial Space Transportation Act requires the Department of Transportation to license launch vehicles and launch site operators. Department of Transportation, DOT, has determined licensing among constituents, alone constituents, major Federal action. It is acting as middleman in interpretation of NEPA requirements. Little or no Federal funding involved in the manufacturing, and structure and operation of launch sites or launch-like sites. Problem: DOT's interpretation of NEPA has increased regulatory burden and cost of compliance with NEPA. If I may continue, the problems are that DOT's interpretation of NEPA has increased regulatory burden and costs of compliance with NEPA. DOT requires extensive paperwork which is duplicative of the NEPA requirements. I want to stress that. This duplicates what is already put in place by NEPA. DOT has determined that it is a decisionmaker regarding whether environmental assessment is adequate or more costly. Time and money environmental impact statement is required. Now I have a solution. This is what my amendment does: Solution that eliminates DOT as the middleman or the interpreter of NEPA requirements. No NEPA requirements will be waivered.”