S. 3413 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3413 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 5, 2020Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Romney) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to study the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Aerial Incursion Repercussion Safety Act of 2020 or the AIR Safety Act of 2020. 2. Study on effects of 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) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. (4) Wildfire suppression The term wildfire suppression has the meaning given the term in section 46320(d) of title 49, United States Code. (b) Study required The Secretary, in consultation with 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 Secretary 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 effect of each occurrence described in subparagraph (A) on— (i) the length of time required to achieve complete suppression; (ii) the effectiveness of aerial firefighting responses; 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 reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy a drone; (B) the seizure of a drone, including seizure with a net device; and (C) 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 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing— (1) the findings of the study required under subsection (b); and (2) any recommendations of the Secretary relating to those findings.