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Drone Rules for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Washington (WA) • Estados Unidos
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington, EUA
Lat: 47.7447 • Lng: -124.884
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 29, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited over Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary under NOAA regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted within the sanctuary without explicit NOAA authorization. Adjacent to Olympic National Park, the sanctuary protects 3,188 square miles of Pacific Ocean waters

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned within sanctuary boundaries
  • Commercial: ❌ Not allowed without NOAA + FAA authorization
  • MMPA: ⚠️ Gray whale and Steller sea lion critical habitat
  • MBTA: ⚠️ 40+ seabird species — tufted puffin, rhinoceros auklet

Geographic Boundaries

Olympic Coast NMS encompasses ocean waters off the Olympic Peninsula, Clallam, Jefferson, and Grays Harbor Counties, Washington.

  • Total area: ~3,188 square miles
  • Coordinates: 47.8833° N, 124.7167° W
  • Includes Protection Island NWR, Flattery Rocks NWR, Quillayute Needles NWR, and Copalis NWR
  • Adjacent to Olympic National Park coastal strip
  • Nearest city: Port Angeles, WA (sanctuary offices)

Regulations

  • National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. § 1431) — NOAA authority over sanctuary resources and airspace
  • 15 CFR Part 922 Subpart L — Olympic Coast NMS regulations; prohibit UAS operations within sanctuary boundaries
  • Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — gray whale, humpback whale, and Steller sea lion critical habitat
  • MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — tufted puffin, rhinoceros auklet, common murre, and pigeon guillemot nesting colonies
  • ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — blue whale and Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
  • Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over sanctuary

Penalties

  • NOAA NMS civil penalties up to $100,000 per day per violation
  • MMPA: civil fines up to $10,000 per marine mammal incident
  • MBTA: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per seabird disturbance
  • ESA killer whale: up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day

Special Permissions

  • NOAA sanctuary permit required
  • Scientific research: NOAA + USFWS joint permit
  • NWR island operations: additional USFWS permit required Submit requests to: Olympic Coast NMS Superintendent, 115 E Railroad Ave, Suite 301, Port Angeles, WA 98362
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Rule sources
  • https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — National Marine Sanctuaries Act 16 U.S.C. § 1431, NOAA 15 CFR Part 922 Subpart L, MMPA gray whale and Steller sea lion critical habitat, MBTA 40+ seabird nesting colonies, and ESA Southern Resident killer whale habitat prohibit all unauthorized drone operations over Olympic Coast NMS.
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