Overnight Regulation: Drones ready to take flight under new rules

Welcome to Overnight Regulation, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Tuesday evening here in Washington.

Here’s the latest.

 

THE BIG STORY

The Obama administration is moving forward with new drone rules, paving the way for flights of unmanned aircraft systems.

The Hill’s Melanie Zanona has the story:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared the way for routine use of small commercial drones, the Obama administration’s first major step toward integrating unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace.

The long-anticipated rule, which was finalized on Tuesday, applies to commercial drones weighing less than 55 pounds.

Currently, commercial operators must apply for a special exemption, known as a “section 333” waiver, in order to take flight, a process drone advocates have lamented is timely and costly.

Under the new rule, the waiver process will no longer be needed. Instead, operators must be at least 16 years old, register their drones online and pass an aviation knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will conduct background checks on all remote pilot applications. 

Unmanned aircraft systems must stay in the operator’s visual line of sight and can fly up to 400 feet and 100 miles per hour, similar to the guidelines under section 333 waivers.

But to the welcome surprise of drone advocates, the new rule permits drones to fly during twilight hours, meaning 30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset, as long as the aircraft is equipped with anti-collision technology that provides lighting for three miles. Operators can also apply for nighttime flights under the rule. 

The new regulation will take effect in 60 days.

Read more: http://bit.ly/28LM5fu

 

ON TAP FOR WEDNESDAY

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an oversight hearing to examine the Drug Enforcement Administration. http://1.usa.gov/1R3YY3r

The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety will hold a hearing to examine pathways towards compliance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone. http://1.usa.gov/28JJnV0

{mosads}The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a hearing to discuss issues with implementing the renewable fuel standard. http://1.usa.gov/28KKXEG

The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to examine allegations of misconduct against IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. Republicans are considering whether to impeach the IRS chief. http://1.usa.gov/28QLJQg

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice will hold a hearing to discuss the Speak Free Act, a law designed to protect Americans from being sued if they post negative reviews online. http://1.usa.gov/1UPsuIy

 

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 222 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register.

–The Department of the Treasury will propose new wine labeling restrictions.

The Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) plans to update labeling requirements for wine that contains “7 percent or more alcohol by volume.”

The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/28LfQba

–The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will issue new protections for a Puerto Rican bird, the elfin-woods warbler. The agency is listing the bird as a threatened species. The protections go into effect in 30 days. http://bit.ly/28NrSDs

At the same time, the FWS will also propose designating a critical habitat for the elfin-woods warbler, which would range for more than 27,000 acres across Puerto Rico. The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rule. http://bit.ly/28Kyh0z

–The Department of Transportation (DOT) will issue new rules for agriculture equipment.

The Transportation Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will issue new lighting and marking requirements for agricultural equipment “to improve daytime and nighttime visibility.”

The rule goes into effect on June 22. http://bit.ly/28Lbtvy

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW 

Talk of Labor chief as VP riles industry http://bit.ly/28OrZzn

White House paves the way for commercial drone use http://bit.ly/28LM5fu

Trader Joe’s settles with feds over alleged air pollution violations http://bit.ly/28SjSAj

Lawmakers push for more marijuana research http://bit.ly/28MALQn

Appeals court tosses NLRB ruling in union dispute with Verizon http://bit.ly/28QIWq8

Vietnamese catfish recalled after missing required tests http://bit.ly/28LYdbw

Gun-control advocates turn focus to November http://bit.ly/28M3v93

Reid airs concerns with FCC cable-box plans http://bit.ly/28KQFqj

Interior ‘strongly opposes’ bill to disarm federal land law enforcement http://bit.ly/28QVcHu

GOP chairman: Short-term FAA bill would likely extend into next year http://bit.ly/28LTNlX

Bush lawyer rips GOP for trying to ‘intimidate’ IRS http://bit.ly/28LU3Sh

Should wild animals that attack people be killed? – The Washington Post http://wapo.st/28MQpKE

Fed cautious on rates due to Brexit, U.S. hiring slowdown: Yellen – Reuters http://reut.rs/28MbBkc

Goodbye password. Banks opt to scan fingers and faces instead – The New York Times http://nyti.ms/28Mr5UW

 

BY THE NUMBERS

$2 million: Amount Trader Joe’s agreed to spend to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from refrigeration equipment. http://bit.ly/28SjSAj

25,760: Pounds of frozen fish fillets from Vietnam that were recalled. http://bit.ly/28LYdbw

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“As this new technology continues to grow and develop, we want to make sure we’re striking the right balance between innovation and safety,” — Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, after the FAA finalized new rules for commercial drones. http://bit.ly/28LM5fu

 

We’ll work to stay on top of these and other stories throughout the week, so check The Hill’s Regulation page (http://digital-release.thehill.com/regulation) early and often for the latest. And send any comments, complaints or regulatory news tips our way, tdevaney@digital-release.thehill.com or lwheeler@digital-release.thehill.com. And follow us at @timdevaney and @wheelerlydia.

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