Utah’s Tooele Army Depot is becoming sort of both a “no fly zone” and a “no spy zone” for unmanned drones.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday that it is banning drones from flying over that Utah base and what it calls 11 other “national security sensitive locations.”
The restrictions take effect on July 11. The FAA warns that operators who violate the restrictions may be subject to criminal charges and civil penalties.
“The FAA has been cooperating with federal partners to address concerns about malicious drone operations,” the agency said in a press release announcing the restrictions.
The Tooele facility — which covers 37.5 square miles — is responsible for storing, shipping, inspecting and maintaining ammunition. It also designs and manufactures equipment used to destroy surplus munitions.
The FAA has online maps that show where drones are restricted at https://udds-faa.opendata.arcgis.com/.
Other facilities where drones are now being banned include:
• Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Ky.
• Hawthorne Army Depot in Hawthorne, Nev.
• Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, Iowa.
• Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo.
• Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pa.
• Maui Space Surveillance Site in Maui, Hawaii
• Pine Bluff Arsenal in White Hall, Ark.
• Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo, Colo.
• Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Adams, Pa.
• Rivanna Station in Charlottesville, Va.
• Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, N.Y.