The Energy Department is still looking to restrict airborne drones from flying above the Savannah River Site and other “sensitive” facilities, but has not yet filed a request with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
From June 19 to July 22, SRS employees reported 12 drone sightings over key areas of the site. These included: the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF), which is being constructed to convert 34 metric tons of weapon-usable plutonium into commercial nuclear fuel; H Area, where nuclear materials are processed; and E Area, where low-level waste and transuranic waste is stored. Authorities still don’t know who was behind the drone flights.
When drones are spotted, SRS security contractor Centerra assesses the situation to determine if further investigation is required. “Officials at the site then coordinate with the appropriate federal, state, and local authorities when the details of the incident are deemed suspicious, threatening, or in violation of any laws,” SRS spokesman Monte Volk said by email. Volk said eight of the 12 sightings were reported to appropriate authorities but did not specify which agencies were contacted. The other four drone sightings were not confirmed, Volk said.
The Savannah River Site reported in July that the Energy Department was working with the FAA to institute a no-fly zone over SRS, located near Aiken, S.C., and other DOE facilities. FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said a request has not been yet been filed. Previously, Bergen said approving an airspace restriction can take anywhere from 20 months to several years, “depending on environmental and aeronautical analysis that is required.” There are no regulations that prohibit flying above SRS, but the FAA does strongly advise pilots to avoid airspace near “critical infrastructure and other sensitive locations,” including nuclear power plants.
Volk said DOE and the FAA are discussing options to regulate or restrict drone flights over DOE-sensitive facilities. “Unfettered UAS flights over DOE sensitive facilities pose a risk to national security, DOE missions, and personnel,” he said.
The Energy Department said it is attempting to restrict airspace over all Category 1 sites. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission identifies these sites as those that either house 2 or more kilograms of plutonium, 2 or more kilograms of uranium-233, or 5 or more kilograms of uranium-235. DOE did not specify which other sites house these different quantities of material, or how many sites there are.
