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About Us:
Welcome to the S&W Environmental, Natural Resources, Oil and Gas Law Blog. This blog is a resource for the regulated community to stay current on new developments impacting the environmental, natural resources and energy sectors. It provides timely updates on a broad range of federal, state and local environmental topics — including proposed legislation and government rulemakings — that impact regulated industries throughout the southwest and the nation as a whole.
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Recent Posts
- New PFAS/PFOS Regulations May Reopen Sites
- EPA’s Clean Power Plan Struck Down by SCOTUS
- As Colorado River Conditions Continue to Deteriorate, the United States Warns that More Cuts will be Required and the Basin States Consider Options
- New Bureau of Land Management Guidance on Geologic Carbon Sequestration on Federal Public Lands Answers Some Questions, But Uncertainty Remains for Split-Estate Lands
- DOE Seeks Input on How to Spend $2.5 billion on Transmission Projects
Experimental Air Taxi Crashes in California
by Patrick J. Paul On February 16, 2022, Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, reported that one of its prototype experimental unmanned aerial taxis crashed in flight in South Monterey County, California. Although no … Continue reading
Tagged Air taxi, drone crash, NTSB
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Phoenix City Council Approves Police Drone Purchase
by Patrick J. Paul On February 16, 2022, less than a week after nine Phoenix police officers were injured in a fatal standoff in South Phoenix, the City Council by a 6-3 vote, approved more than $500,000 in expenditures on … Continue reading
Tagged Drones for Phoenix Police, Phoenix City Council, Phoenix Police Department, Phx
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Arizona Natural Resources, Environment & Water Legislation Transmitted to the Governor
by Amanda A. Reeve The Arizona’s First Regular Session of the 55th Legislature has been moving along at a pretty fast and steady pace. A total of 40 bills have already been sent to the Governor’s desk; and 32 of … Continue reading
Tagged Arizona, legislation
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Friend or Foe Drones: FAA to Require Remote ID “Digital License Plate”
by Kelly A. Daly On December 28, 2020, the FAA released the Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Final Rule. This long-awaited Remote ID rule, identified as the next incremental step to integrating drones into the National Airspace System, requires the broadcasting … Continue reading
Tagged drones, FAA, Remote ID rule
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Arizona Governor Doug Ducey Funds Wastewater Study to Stop Pandemic Spread
by Patrick J. Paul As the page is turned on 2020 and some hope exists with respect to a COVID-19 vaccine, Arizona finds itself with the dubious distinction of leading the nation in COVID-19 cases per 100,000. Against this regrettable … Continue reading
Tagged COVID-19, pandemic, sewer, University of Arizona, wastewater testing
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EPA Issues Interim PFAS Guidance
by Patrick J. Paul On December 18, 2020, EPA issued interim guidance (available here and here) designed to protect the public from exposure to emerging chemicals of concern. More particularly, that interim guidance outlines the current state of science on techniques … Continue reading
In California the Housing Crisis Yields to Luxury Spas
by Sean M. Sherlock A recent court of appeal opinion out of San Diego demonstrates how the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) has once again been used to impede housing development—this time to the benefit of a high-end luxury spa. … Continue reading
Tagged CEQA, Golden Door, San Diego
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Drone Delivery Systems Can Aid Coronavirus Relief
by Patrick J. Paul As COVID-19 continues its spread across the U.S. and globe and governments react with historic aid measures, social distance and stay at home orders, it seems opportunities for accelerated drone deployment to help with the COVID-19 … Continue reading
Sewage Surveillance to Assess Possible COVID-19 Spread in Tempe Wastewater
by Patrick J. Paul Researchers from Arizona State University are evaluating Tempe wastewater for traces of COVID-19, which could serve as an early warning system of the virus’s spread in communities. Although believed to be among the first cities in America … Continue reading
Tagged Arizona State University, ASU, coronavirus, COVID, Tempe, Wastewater
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COVID-19 Drone Use Cases May Hasten Regulatory Approvals
by Patrick J. Paul As the Coronavirus pandemic continues its spread across the globe, the case for drone delivery is rapidly gaining international attention and consequently may have regulatory approval fast-tracked. In China, drone delivery systems previously utilized for residential … Continue reading
Tagged coronavirus, COVID-19, drone delivery, FAA, Part 135, waiver
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