Reporting Unapproved UAS Use

Items below are restricted to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Incidents involving UAS operations must be reported when one or more of the following conditions is satisfied:

1. Criminal activity (including terrorism) has occurred or is reasonably suspected;
2. The operation poses a significant threat or security concern to project features, or to the safety of the public or government employees;
3. A mishap involving a USACE-operated UAS occurs, to include accidents, collisions, and like events.

Reportable incidents include circumstances such as when a USACE employee receives a report of the above types of UAS activity from a visitor, from another agency or from within USACE, or from state or local law enforcement personnel. The recreational or hobby use of UAS equipment, including the operation of traditional model aircraft by aero-modelers and other hobbyists, will not be reported unless one of the above conditions is satisfied. Likewise, UAS operations on project lands, even when outside of areas designated under 36 CFR 327.4(b), will not be reported unless one of the above conditions is satisfied.

Section 14. UAS Incident Reporting (beginning page 17) of EC 1110-1-109 provides guidance on reporting procedures for UAS operations that meet at least one of the above conditions. Also reference:

• FRAGORD 4 to OPORD 2015-28 (USACE Commanders Critical Information Requirements, CCIR), dated 13 August 2018
• Annex A to FRAGORD 4 to OPORD 2015-28  CCIR List portrait view, dated 10 August 2018
• Attachment A to FRAGORD 4 to OPORD 2015-28  MOI (Blackbird Notification), dated 7 December 2017

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Each USACE element should consider the potential presence of non-USACE UAS in their plans and planning meetings to correctly and quickly address situations when develop. Creating plans, completing consultations, identifying partners, generating public awareness messaging, and developing trainings are important for being able to respond to non-authorized UAS operation.

Even if unapproved UAS operations occur, but do not satisfy one of the three conditions listed above, reporting to local law enforcement or other agencies may be necessary.

Reference Section 13. Planning for non-USACE UAS Operations by the Public (beginning page 16) of EC 1110-1-109 provides guidance that is helpful in establishing a projects UAS response and management of public UAS operation.