Rockets' red glare may yet survive in the USA

[kallend 2,162]

Washington, D.C. - The Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation
today sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., that would shield some
model rocket enthusiasts from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF) regulations that have threatened the hobby.

Under the measure passed by the committee, rocketeers would be able to
transport and purchase rocket motors that contain less than .9 pounds
(409.5 grams) of APCP rocket propellant without being required to
obtain a permit from the ATF. APCP, or Ammonium Perchlorate Composite
Propellant, has been classified as an explosive by the ATF. Rocketeers
contend that APCP is not an explosive and have taken the matter to
court. The case is pending.

"Our country's law enforcement resources would be better utilized by
seeking out real threats to our national security and safety instead
of processing permits for kids who want to launch model rockets. ATF
agents have better things to do. My bill as introduced, would have
provided a complete exemption for model rocket hobbyists and that's
what I prefer, but we are gaining ground by increasing the exemption
to more than six times what the limit is now," said Enzi. "I hope the
House will build and improve on what we've started in the Senate."

Before 1997, the ATF exempted APCP used for consumer rocket motors
from the permits required for other substances on the explosives list.
Since that time, only rocket motors with less than 62.5 grams of APCP
have been exempt. Handlers of rocket motors that contained more than
62.5 grams of APCP were required to get permits to purchase and
transport the motors between states. Now, with the passage of the
Homeland Security Act, the permits are being applied to those who
purchase and transport the motors greater than 62.5 grams within a
state.

Enzi's bill as amended would also allow a person to store up to 25
pounds of APCP without a permit as long as each individual motor did
not contain more than .9 pounds of APCP.

The committee voted 16-2 in favor of the amended S. 724. Senators
Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Larry Craig, R-Idaho, voted against the
bill. The bill will now be placed on the Senate calender and subject
to consideration by the Senate as a whole on the Senate floor.

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