OMB Approves Initial TraCSS ICR

Yesterday the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had approved a new information collection request (ICR) from the DOC’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for “Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS)”. The 60-day ICR notice was published on April 28^th, 2025, and the 30-day ICR notice was published on July 25^th, 2025. This collection will support the registration process for the new U.S. civil space situational awareness (SSA) system, the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS).

The table below shows the initial burden estimate for this ICR.

Initial Burden Data	12-8-25
Responses	24,623
Burden (hrs)	6,289

According to the Abstract provided in the Supporting Document submitted to OIRA:

“Users of the system - specifically, spacecraft owners/operators and national governments, are asked to provide information when they register for the system. This information includes organizational information and information about the spacecraft affiliated with the organization. This information is necessary to ensure that entities receive the appropriate safety services and information relevant to their spacecraft. Information provided about supported spacecraft can also help to improve the accuracy and overall quality of services. Spacecraft operators are also asked to provide information on an ongoing basis, including spacecraft ephemerides and maneuver plans, to improve the accuracy and overall quality of services.”

OMB Approves Space Systems Licensing ICR Revision

Yesterday the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had approved an information collection request (ICR) revision from DOC’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on “Licensing of Private Remote Sensing Space Systems”. The ICR revision was submitted to OIRA on June 16^th, 2025.

The table below shows the previous and revised burden estimates for this ICR.

 

According to the abstract in yesterday’s notice:

“This is a request for revision and extension of an approved information collection, to which NOAA is proposing to update existing forms and add 5 optional forms to be usable with a new, online platform to manage license actions called the Commerce Licensing and Compliance System for Space (CLCSS). The changes impose no new information collections. The optional new forms are time-saving forms that licensees may use for the existing information collections involving notices of anomalies, disposal of on-orbit components, financial insolvency, and launch or deployment and one form to simplify the submission process for licensee annual compliance certifications required by the regulations. The modifications to existing forms also are intended to streamline communications with the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) and its upcoming online CLCSS platform to streamline, clarify, and expedite paperwork submissions. NOAA is also removing licensee notification form. That form was initially created to provide a single form for all notification requirements. However, licensees have not used that form and submitted individualized notifications through other means, so NOAA has made the decision to remove that information collection from this OMB Control Number.”

The notice also reports that: ”The number of respondents, responses, and burden hours have increased due to the number of entities licensing private spacecraft.”

Additional NEPA Implementation Rules Sent to OMB – 6-10-25

Yesterday, the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced (EO Review Search Criteria: Agencies=All;   Review Status=Pending Review;   Received from 06/09/2025) that it had received six additional National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementation rules from agencies in the Department of Commerce and Department of Energy. This is in addition to the rules that I reported yesterday.

Yesterday’s rulemakings include:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA NEPA Procedures,

• National Telecommunications and Information Administration - FirstNet Authority NEPA Procedures,

• National Telecommunications and Information Administration - NTIA NEPA Procedures,

• Economic Development Administration - EDA NEPA Procedures,

• National Institute of Standards and Technology - NIST NEPA Procedures, and

• DOE Office of the General Counsel - National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures

One major difference from yesterday’s report, none of these rulemakings were listed in the Fall 2024 Unified Agenda, making these uniquely Trumpian NEPA rules. While you might be able to question Trumps commitment to environmental quality, there is no doubt that his Administration is ‘taking action’ to a whole new level. This is almost certainly attributable to the actions of Russel Voight, Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the primary author of Project 2025.

Again, I will probably not be covering any of these rulemakings in detail when published, but I do intend to mark that publication with notices in the appropriate Short Takes post.