No-drone zonesFAA declares seven nuclear research facilities no-drone zones

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a request from the Department of Energy (DOE) to declare seven DOE’s nuclear research facilities no-drone zones.

Starting 29 December, drone operators would not be allowed to fly their UAVs within 400 feet of the following nuclear facilities:

· Hanford Site in Franklin County Washington

· Pantex Site in Panhandle Texas

· Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico

· Idaho National Laboratory

· Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken South Carolina

VY-12 National Security Site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

· Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Insurance Journal notes that some of these facilities are no longer operational. Washington’s Hanford site, where the plutonium used in the Nagasaki bomb was produced, is now mostly decommissioned.

The agency said that there will be some exceptions to the ban. The FAA will likely approve requests by facility operators to fly UAVs over the facility for inspection.

Owners of drones flying within the exclusion zone without permission will be subject to civil penalties and criminal charges.

The FAA has already limited or banned drone flights over or near several types of facilities, including military bases, Washington, D.C., and ten U.S. landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty.

The FAA said it is currently considering more “no-drone zone” requests from federal agencies.