H. R. 636—17 
‘‘§ 46320. Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforce-
ment, or emergency response effort by operation 
of unmanned aircraft 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), an 
individual who operates an unmanned aircraft and in so doing 
knowingly or recklessly interferes with a wildfire suppression, law 
enforcement, or emergency response effort is liable to the United 
States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $20,000. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—This section does not apply to the operation 
of an unmanned aircraft conducted by a unit or agency of the 
United States Government or of a State, tribal, or local government 
(including any individual conducting such operation pursuant to 
a contract or other agreement entered into with the unit or agency) 
for the purpose of protecting the public safety and welfare, including 
firefighting, law enforcement, or emergency response. 
‘‘(c) COMPROMISE AND SETOFF.— 
‘‘(1) COMPROMISE.—The United States Government may 
compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this 
section. 
‘‘(2) SETOFF.—The United States Government may deduct 
the amount of a civil penalty imposed or compromised under 
this section from the amounts the Government owes the person 
liable for the penalty. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions 
apply: 
‘‘(1) WILDFIRE.—The term ‘wildfire’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 2 of the Emergency Wildfire Suppression 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1856m). 
‘‘(2) WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.—The term ‘wildfire suppres-
sion’ means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a 
wildfire.’’. 
(b) FAA TO IMPOSE CIVIL PENALTY.—Section 46301(d)(2) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘section 
46320,’’ after ‘‘section 46319,’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 463 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘46320. Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency re-
sponse effort by operation of unmanned aircraft.’’. 
SEC. 2206. PILOT PROJECT FOR AIRPORT SAFETY AND AIRSPACE 
HAZARD MITIGATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish a pilot program for airspace hazard 
mitigation at airports and other critical infrastructure using 
unmanned aircraft detection systems. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the pilot program under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall work with the Secretary 
of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the heads 
of other relevant Federal departments and agencies for the purpose 
of ensuring that technologies that are developed, tested, or deployed 
by those departments and agencies to mitigate threats posed by 
errant or hostile unmanned aircraft system operations do not 
adversely impact or interfere with safe airport operations, naviga-
tion, air traffic services, or the safe and efficient operation of the 
national airspace system.
H. R. 636—18 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to 
carry out this section $6,000,000, to remain available until 
expended. 
(d) AUTHORITY.—After the pilot program established under sub-
section (a) ceases to be effective pursuant to subsection (g), the 
Administrator may use unmanned aircraft detection systems to 
detect and mitigate the unauthorized operation of an unmanned 
aircraft that poses a risk to aviation safety. 
(e) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results 
of the pilot program established under subsection (a). 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under paragraph (1) 
shall include the following: 
(A) The number of unauthorized unmanned aircraft 
operations detected, together with a description of such 
operations. 
(B) The number of instances in which unauthorized 
unmanned aircraft were mitigated, together with a descrip-
tion of such instances. 
(C) The number of enforcement cases brought by the 
Federal Aviation Administration for unauthorized oper-
ation of unmanned aircraft detected through the pilot pro-
gram, together with a description of such cases. 
(D) The number of any technical failures in the pilot 
program, together with a description of such failures. 
(E) Recommendations for safety and operational stand-
ards for unmanned aircraft detection systems. 
(F) The feasibility of deployment of the systems at 
other airports. 
(3) FORMAT.—To the extent practicable, the report prepared 
under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in a classified format. 
If appropriate, the report may include an unclassified summary. 
(f) SUNSET.—The pilot program established under subsection 
(a) shall cease to be effective on the earlier of— 
(1) the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act; and 
(2) the date of the submission of the report under subsection 
(e). 
SEC. 2207. EMERGENCY EXEMPTION PROCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall publish guidance for applications for, and 
procedures for the processing of, on an emergency basis, exemptions 
or certificates of authorization or waiver for the use of unmanned 
aircraft systems by civil or public operators in response to a catas-
trophe, disaster, or other emergency to facilitate emergency 
response operations, such as firefighting, search and rescue, and 
utility and infrastructure restoration efforts. In processing such 
applications, the Administrator shall give priority to applications 
for public unmanned aircraft systems engaged in emergency 
response activities. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In providing guidance under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall—
H. R. 636—19 
(1) make explicit any safety requirements that must be 
met for the consideration of applications that include requests 
for beyond visual line of sight or nighttime operations, or the 
suspension of otherwise applicable operating restrictions, con-
sistent with public interest and safety; and 
(2) explicitly state the procedures for coordinating with 
an incident commander, if any, to ensure operations granted 
under procedures developed under subsection (a) do not inter-
fere with other emergency response efforts. 
(c) REVIEW.—In processing applications on an emergency basis 
for exemptions or certificates of authorization or waiver for 
unmanned aircraft systems operations in response to a catastrophe, 
disaster, or other emergency, the Administrator shall act on such 
applications as expeditiously as practicable and without requiring 
public notice and comment. 
SEC. 2208. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. 
(a) RESEARCH PLAN
FOR UTM DEVELOPMENT
AND DEPLOY-
MENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’), in coordination with the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall continue develop-
ment of a research plan for unmanned aircraft systems traffic 
management (in this section referred to as ‘‘UTM’’) development 
and deployment. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In developing the research plan, the 
Administrator shall— 
(A) identify research outcomes sought; and 
(B) ensure the plan is consistent with existing regu-
latory and operational frameworks, and considers potential 
future 
regulatory 
and 
operational 
frameworks, 
for 
unmanned aircraft systems in the national airspace system. 
(3) ASSESSMENT.—The research plan shall include an 
assessment of the interoperability of a UTM system with 
existing and potential future air traffic management systems 
and processes. 
(4) DEADLINES.—The Administrator shall— 
(A) initiate development of the research plan not later 
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act; 
and 
(B) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act— 
(i) complete the research plan; 
(ii) submit the research plan to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and 
(iii) publish the research plan on the Internet Web 
site of the Federal Aviation Administration. 
(b) PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of submission of the research plan under subsection (a)(4)(B), 
the Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Drone
H. R. 636—20 
Advisory Committee, the research advisory committee estab-
lished by section 44508(a) of title 49, United States Code, 
and representatives of the unmanned aircraft industry, shall 
establish a UTM system pilot program. 
(2) SUNSET.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
establishment of the pilot program, the Administrator shall 
conclude the pilot program. 
(c) UPDATES.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
establishment of the pilot program, and every 180 days thereafter 
until the date of conclusion of the pilot program, the Administrator 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives an update on the status 
and progress of the pilot program. 
SEC. 2209. APPLICATIONS FOR DESIGNATION. 
(a) APPLICATIONS FOR DESIGNATION.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a process to allow applicants to petition the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to prohibit 
or restrict the operation of an unmanned aircraft in close proximity 
to a fixed site facility. 
(b) REVIEW PROCESS.— 
(1) APPLICATION PROCEDURES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall establish 
the procedures for the application for designation under 
subsection (a). 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The procedures shall allow opera-
tors or proprietors of fixed site facilities to apply for des-
ignation individually or collectively. 
(C) CONSIDERATIONS.—Only the following may be 
considered fixed site facilities: 
(i) Critical infrastructure, such as energy produc-
tion, transmission, and distribution facilities and 
equipment. 
(ii) Oil refineries and chemical facilities. 
(iii) Amusement parks. 
(iv) Other locations that warrant such restrictions. 
(2) DETERMINATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide for a 
determination under the review process established under 
subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the date of 
application, unless the applicant is provided with written 
notice describing the reason for the delay. 
(B) AFFIRMATIVE DESIGNATIONS.—An affirmative des-
ignation shall outline— 
(i) the boundaries for unmanned aircraft operation 
near the fixed site facility; and 
(ii) such other limitations that the Administrator 
determines may be appropriate. 
(C) CONSIDERATIONS.—In making a determination 
whether to grant or deny an application for a designation, 
the Administrator may consider— 
(i) aviation safety; 
(ii) protection of persons and property on the 
ground;