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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
NASA Flies First Drone Ever on Another Planet
By Patrick J. Paul On April 19, 2021, America’s civil space program – the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made history when its Mars Ingenuity helicopter made the first ever powered, controlled flight on another planet. With it, the … Continue reading
FAA Approves Fully Automated Commercial Drone Flights
By Patrick J. Paul On January 14, the Federal Aviation Administration approved the first fully automated commercial drone flights by granting Massachusetts-based American Robotics, Inc. permission to operate drones without hands-on piloting and “beyond-visual-line-of-site” (BVLOS) through January 31, 2023. Weighing … Continue reading
Tagged 107 Waiver, COVID-19, drones, vaccine
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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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FAA Issues Drone Guidance for COVID-19 Response
by Patrick Paul As the case for drone use to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic, whether to enforce social distancing guidelines, announce current developments, or deliver needed medical and food supplies, grows internationally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on … Continue reading
Tagged coronavirus, COVID-19, drones, FAA, Part 107, small unmanned aircraft, UAVs
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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
COVID-19 Drones to the Rescue: an Opportunity to Shine
by Kelly A. Daly Around the world, drone enthusiasts are mobilizing to demonstrate the numerous benefits that Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS” or “drones”) technology can offer during this COVID-19 pandemic. Equipped with beacons, spotlights, visual and thermal cameras, specialized sensors … Continue reading
Tagged coronavirus, COVID, DJI, drones, UAS
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Drone Deployment to Combat COVID-19
by Patrick J. Paul As the world faces an unprecedented pandemic with the rapid spread of the coronavirus, drones are being increasingly deployed to assist in the response. From delivery, to disinfectant, to photography, the use of drones in this … Continue reading
Tagged coronavirus, COVID-19, CV-19, drone delivery, drones
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FAA to Limit Restrictions on Drone Use Near Federal Facilities
by Patrick J. Paul On August 29, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it was working with other federal agencies to reduce the impact of flight restrictions imposed on drone operators flying in close proximity to certain federal facilities. In … Continue reading
Tagged drones, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, NOTAMs, UAS
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Drones and Forest Fires – Leave It to the Pros
by Patrick J. Paul Wildfire season is in full swing with at least 19 active fires burning across Arizona according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM). There are multiple other prescribed or controlled fires also presently burning … Continue reading
FAA Announces Recreational Drone Rules
by Patrick J. Paul On May 17, 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice implementing the statutory exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft or drones necessitated by the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act, which repealed Section 336 … Continue reading
Tagged drones, FAA, hobbyist, recreational drones
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