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49 U.S.C. § 46320 — Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(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](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1856m&num=0&edition=prelim)).
(2) **Wildfire suppression.—** — The term “wildfire suppression” means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a wildfire.
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Source location: Title 49, Chapter 463, § 46320; chapter-463-penalties.md
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**(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](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1856m&num=0&edition=prelim)).
(2) **Wildfire suppression.—** — The term “wildfire suppression” means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a wildfire.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
In this subchapter:
(1) **Assume any and all liability** — The term “assume any and all liability” means—
(A) the payment of—
(i) any judgment, settlement, fine, penalty, or cost assessment (including prevailing party legal fees) associated with the applicable litigation; and
(ii) any cost incurred in handling the applicable litigation (including legal fees); and
(B) with respect to a Federal firefighter, arranging for, and paying the costs of, representation in the applicable litigation.
(2) **Federal firefighter** — The term “Federal firefighter” means an individual furnished by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior under an agreement entered into under [section 1856n of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1856n&num=0&edition=prelim).
(3) **Foreign fire organization** — The term “foreign fire organization” means any foreign governmental, public, or private entity that has wildfire protection resources.
(4) **Foreign firefighter** — The term “foreign firefighter” means an individual furnished by a foreign fire organization under an agreement entered into under [section 1856n of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1856n&num=0&edition=prelim).
(5) **Wildfire** — The term “wildfire” means any forest or range fire.
(6) **Wildfire protection resources** — The term “wildfire protection resources” means any personnel, supplies, equipment, or other resources required for wildfire presuppression and suppression activities.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 1856m
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Required Planning for Integration.—**
(1) **Comprehensive plan.—** — Not later than November 10, 2012,11 See Prior Provisions note below. the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with representatives of the aviation industry, Federal agencies that employ unmanned aircraft systems technology in the national airspace system, and the unmanned aircraft systems industry, shall develop a comprehensive plan to safely accelerate the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system.
(2) **Contents of plan.—** — The plan required under paragraph (1) shall contain, at a minimum, recommendations or projections on—
(A) the rulemaking to be conducted under subsection (b), with specific recommendations on how the rulemaking will—
(i) define the acceptable standards for operation and certification of civil unmanned aircraft systems;
(ii) ensure that any civil unmanned aircraft system includes a sense-and-avoid capability; and
(iii) establish standards and requirements for the operator and pilot of a civil unmanned aircraft system, including standards and requirements for registration and licensing;
(B) the best methods to enhance the technologies and subsystems necessary to achieve the safe and routine operation of civil unmanned aircraft systems in the national airspace system;
(C) a phased-in approach to the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system;
(D) a timeline for the phased-in approach described under subparagraph (C);
(E) creation of a safe airspace designation for cooperative manned and unmanned flight operations in the national airspace system;
(F) establishment of a process to develop certification, flight standards, and air traffic requirements for civil
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 49 U.S.C. § 44802
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. Incoming connection: Explicit cross-reference supplied in source Markdown; currentness and applicability require review.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 5070
TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
§ 1856e
propriated after the date of the enactment of this Act
[Dec. 31, 2011].’’
§ 1856e. Reimbursement of fire funds
(a) Definition of State
In this section, the term ‘‘State’’ means—
(1) a State; and
(2) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b) In general
If a State seeks reimbursement for amounts
expended for resources and services provided to
another State for the management and suppres-
sion of a wildfire, the Secretary, subject to sub-
sections (c) and (d)—
(1) may accept the reimbursement amounts
from the other State; and
(2) shall pay those amounts to the State
seeking reimbursement.
(c) Mutual assistance agreement
As a condition of seeking and providing reim-
bursement under subsection (b), the State seek-
ing reimbursement and the State providing re-
imbursement must each have a mutual assist-
ance agreement with the Forest Service or an-
other Federal agency for providing and receiving
wildfire management and suppression resources
and services.
(d) Terms and conditions
The Secretary may prescribe the terms and
conditions determined to be necessary to carry
out subsection (b).
(e) Effect on prior reimbursements
Any acceptance of funds or reimbursements
made by the Secretary before February 7, 2014,
that otherwise would have been authorized
under this section shall be considered to have
been made in accordance with this section.
(Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII, § 8304, Feb. 7, 2014, 128
Stat. 924.)
Editorial Notes
CODIFICATION
Section was enacted as part of the Agricultural Act
of 2014, and not as part of act May 27, 1955, which com-
prises this subchapter.
Section is comprised of section 8304 of Pub. L. 113–79.
Subsec. (f) of section 8304 of Pub. L. 113–79 amended sec-
tion 1856d of thi
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 42 U.S.C. § 1856m
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 42 U.S.C. § 1856m. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 1562
TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION
§ 46320
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section applicable only to fiscal years beginning
after Sept. 30, 2003, except as otherwise specifically pro-
vided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–176, set out as an Ef-
fective Date of 2003 Amendment note under section 106
of this title.
§ 46320. Interference with wildfire suppression,
law enforcement, or emergency response ef-
fort by operation of unmanned aircraft
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), an individual who operates an un-
manned 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 con-
ducted by a unit or agency of the United States
Government or of a State, tribal, or local gov-
ernment (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 enforce-
ment, or emergency response.
(c) COMPROMISE AND SETOFF.—
(1) COMPROMISE.—The United States Govern-
ment 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 im-
posed 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
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 49 U.S.C. § 46320
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.