5.24.2006
Rocket Fuel Case Update
Life isn't all fun and thrills. Sometimes folks have to take time away from seriously blasting off rockets to go launch a federal lawsuit or two. Dick Stafford continues to follow the action in the ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP) federal civil litigation. As we know, on February 10, 2006, the Circuit Court set aside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) determination that the popular hobby rocket propellant was an "explosive" and sent the case back down to the district court for remand -- big win for the hobby rocket guys and girls (see this SLP post; and here's the Circuit Court opinion if you missed it).
In his April 20th remand order, District Court Judge Reggie Walton ordered the BATFE to submit a status report to the Court and plaintiffs "outlining the efforts it has taken to comply with the Circuit's mandate." The agency must "identify the laboratory selected by the defendant to perform the testing called for by the Circuit, how long this entity estimates it will take to complete the required analysis, and what additional tasks, if any, the defendant will have to complete to comply..."
And the judge ordered a status hearing for July 26.
Meanwhile, in their joint statement released May 15, Mark Bundick of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and Ken Good of the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) remind supporters they can contribute to the litigation war chest (and you thought hobby rocketry was expensive?) by making a donation. And then you too can say, "I supported the fight for an unregulated sport rocket hobby."
OK, back to work, everyone.
