Las Vegas Sun

April 26, 2024

FAA bans drone flights near major U.S. landmarks, including Hoover Dam

0626LakeMead01

Steve Marcus

A view of the bathtub ring at Lake Mead as viewed from Hoover Dam Monday, June 26, 2017.

NEW YORK — The Federal Aviation Administration is banning drone flights within 400 feet of several national landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore.

The FAA announced the no-fly drone zones at 10 Department of the Interior sites on Thursday. They take effect Oct. 5.

The restricted sites also include Boston National Historical Park, Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park and Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri.

Five dams also are on the list: Nevada's Hoover Dam, Shasta and Folsom Dams in California, Arizona's Glen Canyon Dam and Washington's Grand Coulee Dam.

Drone violators may face civil penalties and criminal charges.

The FAA says the new restrictions came at the request of U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies.

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