Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act in plain language
1: Short title
This section would let the Act be cited as the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act .
2: Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression
This section would define drone as an unmanned aircraft system owned by a private individual or entity, and would define drone incursion as operating a drone within airspace for which the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire. It would define unmanned aircraft system as an unmanned aircraft and the associated elements, including communication links and the components that control the aircraft, that the operator needs to operate it safely and efficiently. The section would require the FAA Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to study the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression on land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture. In conducting the study, the Administrator would have to determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar years, the number of occurrences in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression, and for each such occurrence, the estimated effect on the length of time needed to achieve complete suppression, any associated delay in fielding aerial firefighting response units, and the amounts the federal government spent. The Administrator would also have to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various actions to prevent drone incursions, including the use of counter-drone radio towers, the use of reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy a drone, the seizure of a drone (including with a net device), and the dissemination of educational materials about the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression. Not later than 18 months after the date the Act is enacted, the Administrator would have to submit a report to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the House Committee on Natural Resources, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, describing the study's findings and any recommendations relating to those findings.
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2. Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Drone The term drone means an unmanned aircraft system owned by a private individual or entity. (2) Drone incursion The term drone incursion means the operation of a drone within any airspace for which the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire. (3) Unmanned aircraft system The term unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including, if applicable, communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently. (b) Study required The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall conduct a study on the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture. (c) Study contents In conducting the study required under subsection (b), the Administrator shall— (1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar years— (A) the number of occurrences in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression; and (B) the estimated effect of each occurrence described in subparagraph (A) on— (i) the length of time required to achieve complete suppression; (ii) any associated delay in the fielding of aerial firefighting response units; and (iii) the amounts expended by the Federal Government; and (2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various actions to prevent drone incursions, including— (A) the use of counter-drone radio towers; (B) the use of reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy a drone; (C) the seizure of a drone, including seizure with a net device; and (D) the dissemination of educational materials relating to the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression. (d) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report describing— (1) the findings of the study required under subsection (b); and (2) any recommendations relating to those findings.