Overview

This bill amends the Space Industry Bill to ensure that environmental impact assessments are mandatory before granting licenses for spaceports and spacecraft launches. The changes strengthen the regulator's power to ensure environmental protection in the burgeoning UK space industry.

Description

The key amendment adds a new clause requiring environmental impact assessments before issuing licenses for spaceports and spacecraft launches. This assessment must consider the environmental effects of launches from the spaceport, including those from carrier aircraft. The regulator can accept previously completed assessments if no significant circumstances have changed. The regulator is obligated to consider these assessments when deciding whether to grant a license and what conditions to apply. Further amendments clarify and strengthen the regulator's responsibilities regarding these assessments, mandating their consideration (rather than allowing discretion) in licensing decisions and providing guidance on the required content and timing of these assessments. Finally, a subsection was removed from Clause 71, although the specific content of the removed subsection is not detailed in the provided text.

Government Spending

The bill is unlikely to significantly impact government spending. The cost of implementing the new environmental assessment requirement will fall on applicants for spaceport and operator licenses. The government will incur costs associated with the regulator's responsibilities, primarily in guidance issuance and license oversight. No specific figures are provided in the text of the bill.

Groups Affected

• Spaceport operators: Will face additional costs and administrative burdens associated with environmental impact assessments.
• Spacecraft operators: Will also incur costs related to environmental assessments.
• Environmental groups: Will likely see a strengthened framework for environmental protection in the space industry, potentially leading to decreased environmental impact of space launches.
• The UK government: Will have increased responsibilities in ensuring compliance with the new regulations.

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