news

Washington, DC – On Monday, July 11th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016 (H.R. 636), which included an important amendment offered by U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36) to set strict new guidelines for the operation of drones near chemical plants and oil refineries.  The bipartisan legislation will now be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by the President.

“As the representative of the 36th Congressional District of Texas, which is home to more petrochemical and refining facilities than any other district in the country, I was pleased to have helped secure this much-needed provision and put it on the path to becoming law,” said Rep. Brian Babin. “This carefully crafted language will ensure both the protection of our oil and gas facilities and their employees from unauthorized drone activity while also respecting the growing business of public and commercial drone use throughout the United States.”

“We thank Congressman Babin for his tireless leadership on safety and for including a provision in the Senate's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that will address the troubling gap in current policies regarding the safe operation of drones around chemical facilities,” said Cal Dooley, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council. “This vital amendment will help protect communities and safeguard chemical facilities, which play a vital role in manufacturing products that are important to the everyday health and well-being of our nation.”