Consultation outcome

Commercial spaceflight: environmental objectives for the spaceflight regulator

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 10 February 2021
• Last updated: 25 June 2021 — See all updates

This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Draft guidance to the regulator on environmental objectives under the Space Industry Act 2018: final outcome

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Detail of outcome

Release of the outcome to consultation on environmental objectives and guidance that we propose setting for the regulator when exercising its spaceflight functions under the Space Industry Act 2018.

The outcome gives the summary of responses and next steps. The main decisions were:

• we are not proposing to make changes to the 4 environmental objectives covering climate change, air quality, noise and the marine environment
• guidance will be periodically reviewed to ensure that it remains current to evolving standards, legislation and policies
• clarifying that, while ‘Space’ is a reserved matter, planning and environmental policy are devolved matters
• clarifying that there is no expectation that spaceflight activities themselves should be net zero, but rather that the activities should not undermine legally binding commitments
• removal of the Environment Agency screening method for air quality assessments
• clarifying that noise exposure on wildlife and livestock should be considered alongside human noise exposure
• clarifying that where spaceports are located on the coast, the assessment of impacts should cover impacts on the shoreline, estuaries and internal waters as, well as the sea

The outcome was released on 25 June 2021.

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Original consultation

Summary

Seeks views on draft environment objectives and guidance for the spaceflight regulator under the Space Industry Act 2018.

This consultation ran from
12:15am on 10 February 2021 to 11:45pm on 24 March 2021

Consultation description

The Space Industry Act 2018 created the high-level legal framework to enable commercial spaceflight and associated activities to be carried out from the UK. Under the act, the Secretary of State for Transport must set environmental objectives for the spaceflight regulator to take account of when exercising its duties under the act.

We’re consulting on draft environment objectives that we propose setting for the spaceflight regulator and associated guidance on how the regulator should implement the objectives.

These objectives and guidance supplement the guidance on assessment of environmental effects (AEE) that applicants for launch operator and spaceport licences must submit. We consulted on the guidance on AEEs as part of the Spaceport and spaceflight activities: regulations and guidance consultation, which was published on 29 July 2020.

Documents

Unlocking commercial spaceflight for the UK: environmental objectives for the spaceflight regulator under the Space Industry Act 2018

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Draft Guidance to the regulator on environmental objectives relating to the exercise of its functions under the Space Industry Act 2018

PDF, 382 KB, 27 pages

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Published 10 February 2021
Last updated 25 June 2021 + show all updates

1. 25 June 2021

   Outcome released.

2. 10 February 2021

   First published.