Overnight Regulation: Feds unveil drone registry rules

Welcome to Overnight Regulation, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. Here’s the latest.

 

THE BIG STORY

The Obama administration is handing down new drone regulations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Monday that both commercial and recreational drone users will be required to register their devices online by Feb. 19, 2016.

The registration fee will cost $5.

{mosads}The FAA is looking to protect airplanes from colliding with the unmanned aircraft, but drone enthusiasts say the rules will discourage hobbyists from participating.

The Hill’s Keith Laing has more:

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said Monday that the registration system for drones is necessary because of an increase in the number of pilots who have reported sightings of the devices during flights.

“Make no mistake: unmanned aircraft enthusiasts are aviators, and with that title comes a great deal of responsibility,” Foxx said in a statement. “Registration gives us an opportunity to work with these users to operate their unmanned aircraft safely. I’m excited to welcome these new aviators into the culture of safety and responsibility that defines American innovation.”

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said his agency is launching the registration system for drones ahead of the holiday season because sales of the devices are expected to be brisk this year. 

“We expect hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft will be purchased this holiday season,” Huerta said. “Registration gives us the opportunity to educate these new airspace users before they fly so they know the airspace rules and understand they are accountable to the public for flying responsibly.” 

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1P2qwnh

 

ON TAP FOR TUESDAY

The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association will meet with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to discuss the Food and Drug Administration’s final rule under review for cigars and electronic cigarettes.

 

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 197 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Tuesday’s edition of the Federal Register.

—The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will issue new rules for truck drivers using hours-of-service electronic logging devices to track the time they spend on the road.

The new rules will address the mandatory use of these electronic logging devices as well as design and performance standards.

The rules go into effect in 60 days. http://bit.ly/1YaTMOr

—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will delay new protections for certain species of crayfish.

The FWS proposed listing the Big Sandy crayfish and Guyandotte River crayfish as endangered species in April 2015, but is now reopening the comment period to give the public more time to discuss the changes.

The public has 30 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1P30zUy

—The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will loosen the requirements for airlines to report collisions and other close calls.

The NTSB is narrowing the circumstances in which airlines must report the use of the Airborne Collision and Avoidance System.

The changes go into effect in 60 days. http://bit.ly/1QpfnOu

—Federal agencies will formally release their semiannual regulatory agendas, which detail the rules they plan to promulgate in the coming year.

Some of the agencies publishing a regulatory agenda include the Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Department, Labor Department, Department of Health and Human Services, Agriculture Department, Education Department, and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The regulatory agendas were posted online a few weeks ago, but are now being formally published in the Federal Register.

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW

Gun control advocates lament inaction on anniversary of Sandy Hook http://bit.ly/1O5crWY

Kansas officials to Obama: Don’t close Guantanamo http://bit.ly/1SXlCa8

Amazon grounds hoverboards http://bit.ly/1Mdg99K

USDA finalizes record-keeping rule for ground beef http://bit.ly/1SXm1t7

NY governor: ‘Madness’ not to ban no-fly list gun sales http://bit.ly/1RNwhpu

Global supermarkets selling shrimp peeled by slaves – The AP http://apne.ws/1NsW2Gl

The Chinese didn’t just hack federal employees – The Washington Post http://wapo.st/1lHVuWm

Supreme Court sides with lesbian mother in Alabama adoption fight http://usat.ly/1mk3SLL

 

BY THE NUMBERS

10: Reports received by Consumer Product Safety Commission of hoverboards catching fire.

29: Reports received by CPSC of people being treated at emergency rooms after falling off hoverboards. http://bit.ly/1Qpph2G

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“However, you must understand our justifiable trepidation about moving the detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention center to Kansas. After all, these are some of the most dangerous terrorists in the world, whose own countries refuse to take them back,” Kansas local, state and federal officials said in a letter to President Obama on Monday. Fort Leavenworth in the state is one of the sites being examined for relocating detainees. http://bit.ly/1m2kVld

 

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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