Aerospace Debris Safety Act

To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a program to track potential sources of airborne foreign object debris to prevent the collision of aircraft with such debris, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Aerospace Debris Safety Act 2. Foreign object debris collision avoidance (a) In general Chapter 447 44741. Foreign object debris collision avoidance (a) In general The Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall— (1) establish a program to track objects that are potential sources of covered airborne foreign object debris; (2) establish a database containing data and information on such objects; (3) utilize existing tools and methods, including communication with the owners or operators of such objects, to determine on an ongoing basis the likelihood and the circumstances, including the time and location, under which such objects may reenter the Earth’s atmosphere in a controlled or uncontrolled manner; (4) assess the potential of a reentry of each such object to create covered airborne foreign object debris; and (5) establish a system, in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer for the air traffic control system, by which— (A) airspace may be dynamically controlled or restricted due to the presence or expected presence of covered airborne foreign object debris; and (B) aircraft at risk of being impacted by covered airborne foreign object debris can be expeditiously notified and redirected. (b) Tracking program In establishing the program under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary may— (1) acquire or establish facilities and equipment to directly track objects that are potential sources of covered airborne foreign object debris; and (2) contract for, or utilize reliable sources of, data and information relating to such objects from other Federal agencies or any eligible entity, including by using the authority provided in section 106(l)(6). (c) Federal data and information (1) In general Prior to receiving data and information from a Federal agency under subsection (b)(2), or using such data and information for any purpose under this section, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the head of such Federal agency that— (A) details the purposes for which the Secretary is authorized to use such data and information; (B) describes the conditions under which data and information may not be released, including a list of eligible entities or categories of eligible entities that are not permitted to receive such data and information; (C) ensures that such data or information is safety-related and unclassified; (D) designates the Secretary as the sole or primary Federal distributor of such data and information to an eligible entity; and (E) contains any other condition or restriction as the Secretary and the head of such Federal agency consider appropriate. (2) Exception The Secretary may not enter into an agreement with the head of a Federal agency under this subsection that restricts the ability of the Secretary to provide the minimum data and information necessary to an eligible entity to effectively provide services described under subsection (d). (d) Safety of airspace and aircraft (1) United States airspace The Secretary shall provide the service under subsection (a)(5) to aircraft operating in United States airspace or airspace assigned to the United States at no charge. (2) Foreign agreements The Secretary may enter into an agreement with a foreign air navigation service provider for the Secretary to provide the services described in subsection (a)(5)(B) to the foreign air navigation service provider, provided that the foreign air navigation service provider— (A) remunerates the Secretary at a rate that is reasonably related to the cost of providing such services, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) agrees to indemnify and hold the United States Government harmless from any claim related to the provision of such services and any related action or omission. (e) Other uses of data and information; other services (1) Authority The Secretary, in coordination with appropriate entities within the Department of Transportation and in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies— (A) shall carry out a program to improve the collection, processing, and dissemination of data and information contained in the database established under subsection (a)(2) and to provide services relating to such data and information, as the Secretary determines appropriate; (B) subject to paragraph (2), may provide such data, information, and services to an eligible entity; and (C) may obtain such data, information, and services from an eligible entity. (2) Type of information provided (A) In general Data and information provided to an eligible entity under paragraph (1)(B) shall be safety-related and unclassified. (B) Interests of the United States The Secretary, in consultation with the head of a Federal agency with which the Secretary has entered into an agreement under subsection (c), shall develop a policy to determine the type of information that may be provided under paragraph (1) without compromising the national security interests of the United States. (3) Public services (A) In general The Secretary shall designate a basic level of data, information, and services described in paragraph (1) to be provided at no charge to an eligible entity and public services to be provided at no charge, including— (i) a public catalog of objects contained in the database established under subsection (a)(2); (ii) emergency conjunction notifications for objects that are potential sources of covered airborne foreign object debris; and (iii) any other data, information, or services the Secretary considers appropriate. (B) Limitation The Secretary may not provide data, information, or services under subparagraph (A)(iii) that compete with products offered by United States commercial entities. (4) Advanced services The Secretary may undertake activities to promote the creation and provision of more advanced levels of data, information, and services to foster the public and private enhancement of transportation safety. (5) Procedures The Secretary shall establish procedures by which the authority under this subsection shall be carried out. (6) Immunity The United States, any agencies and instrumentalities thereof, and any individuals, firms, corporations, and other persons acting for the United States, shall be immune from any suit in any court for any cause of action arising from the provision or receipt data, information, or services described in paragraph (1) whether or not provided in accordance with this section, or any related action or omission. (f) Non-Delegation Except as provided in subsection (e)(5), the authority under this section may only be delegated by the Secretary of Transportation to an officer or employee of the Department of Transportation, including the Federal Aviation Administration. (g) Funding Out of amounts made available under section 106(k)(2)(D) of title 49, United States Code, $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 may be expended by the Secretary to carry out this section. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered airborne foreign object debris The term covered airborne foreign object debris (A) was previously in Earth orbit; (B) is uncontrolled; and (C) poses a potential risk to the safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) A State. (B) A political subdivision of a State. (C) A United States commercial entity. (D) The government of a foreign country. (E) A foreign commercial entity. . (b) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Section 44737 Chapter 447 (2) Analysis The analysis for chapter 447 (A) by striking the item relating to the second section 44737 (as added by section 581 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018); and (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 44739 the following new items: 44740. Special rule for certain aircraft operations. 44741. Foreign object debris collision avoidance. . (3) Special rule for certain aircraft operations Section 44740 of title 49, United States Code (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), is amended— (A) in the heading by striking the period at the end; (B) in subsection (a)(1) by striking chapter section (C) in subsection (b)(1) by striking (1) (D) in subsection (c)(2) by adding a period at the end.

Summary: Aerospace Debris Safety Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a program to track potential sources of airborne foreign object debris that pose a risk to the safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce.