WASHINGTON — Louisiana is positioning itself as a hub for private aerospace operations, driven by recent state legislative changes and a push from the Trump administration to ease regulatory burdens for rocket launches.

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed simplifying the approval process for private space companies, aiming to eliminate what it calls unnecessary regulations currently required for launch permits.

Under existing rules, a proposed spaceport in coastal marsh areas like those in Louisiana triggers a series of environmental reviews — an environmental impact statement, a wetlands dredge-and-fill review, consistency checks with Louisiana's coastal program, Gulf fisheries consultation and an Endangered Species Act consultation.

Critics argue those protections would largely disappear under a new FAA license. One critic said the current Endangered Species Act consultation would put the whooping crane up against Elon Musk's SpaceX, highlighting the potential impact on wildlife.

Louisiana lawmakers wrapped up a legislative session June 1, during which they revised state law to make the state more competitive in attracting private aerospace firms.

State lawmakers have identified Louisiana's coastal marsh as an ideal location for private space launches, citing sparse population, direct access to water and proximity to liquefied natural gas facilities as key advantages.

President Trump has pushed to reduce regulatory hurdles for businesses, including the private space sector. His administration's move to cut certain environmental reviews aligns with a broader agenda to reduce government oversight and spur industrial growth.

That push extends beyond aerospace in Louisiana. The Trump administration is also weighing a potential nuclear campus in the state that would involve reactor manufacturing, fuel enrichment and waste disposal.

The FAA's proposed rule changes must still be finalized. If adopted, they would shorten approval timelines and reduce compliance costs for private space companies — and Louisiana, with its updated state laws, would be ready to compete for a share of the growing private space industry.

The streamlined process concerns conservationists, who say wildlife protections — including those covering the whooping crane — would be weakened.