10 U.S.C. § 6227 — Protection of certain nuclear facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft

(a) Authority. Despite title 18, the Secretary of Energy may take the actions in subsection (b)(1) needed to reduce a threat, as defined by the Secretary in consultation with the Transportation Secretary, that an unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft poses to a covered facility or asset’s safety or security.
(b) Actions. (1) The Secretary may (A) detect, identify, monitor, and track the aircraft or system without prior consent, including by intercepting or otherwise accessing a wire, oral, or electronic communication used to control it; (B) warn its operator by passive or active, direct or indirect physical, electronic, radio, or electromagnetic means; (C) disrupt its control without prior consent, including by disabling it through interception, interference, or causing interference with control communications; (D) seize or control it; (E) seize or otherwise confiscate it; and (F) use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy it. (2) The Secretary must develop these actions in coordination with the Transportation Secretary.
(c) Forfeiture. An aircraft or system seized under subsection (a) is subject to forfeiture to the United States.
(d) Regulations. The Energy and Transportation Secretaries may issue regulations and must issue guidance within their respective areas to carry out this section.
(e) Definitions. “Covered facility or asset” means a U.S.-located facility or asset, including territories and possessions^*, identified by the Energy Secretary for this section and either (i) owned by or contracted to the National Nuclear Security Administration^*, including a facility storing or using special nuclear material, or (ii) a national security laboratory^* or nuclear weapons production facility^*. “Unmanned aircraft” and “unmanned aircraft system” have the meanings in section 331 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note). This section does not otherwise define those terms.