33 U.S.C. § 576c — Corps of Engineers operation of unmanned aircraft systems

(a) In general The Secretary must designate an individual, within the headquarters office of the Corps of Engineers, who must serve as the coordinator and principal approving official for developing the process and procedures by which the Corps of Engineers— (1) operates and maintains small unmanned aircraft (as defined in section 331 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( 49 U.S.C. 40101 1 note)) systems in support of civil works and emergency response missions of the Corps of Engineers; and (2) acquires, applies for, and receives any necessary Federal Aviation Administration authorizations for such operations and systems. (b) Requirements A small unmanned aircraft system acquired, operated, or maintained for carrying out the missions specified in subsection (a) must be operated under regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration as a civil aircraft or public aircraft, at the discretion of the Secretary, and must be exempt from regulations of the Department of Defense, including the Department of the Army, governing such system. (c) Limitation A small unmanned aircraft system acquired, operated, or maintained by the Corps of Engineers is excluded from use by the Department of Defense, including the Department of the Army, for any mission of the Department of Defense other than a mission specified in subsection (a).