National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Drones

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970 and requires FAA to ensure that environmental considerations are factored into its decision-making process. NEPA reviews must be completed for actions that could cause reasonably foreseeable effects on the human environment, whether the actions are taken by the agency itself, or the actions are taken by airspace users seeking FAA authorization.

The NEPA process ensures that:

• FAA decision makers understand the potential environmental impacts of proposed authorizations;
• FAA fully discloses the potential impacts to the human environment from the proposed activities; and
• FAA evaluates the reasonable alternatives to the proposed activities.

The FAA is conducting NEPA reviews for advanced drone operations that are being proposed to FAA for authorization.

Environmental Documents for Public Review

• Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for UPS Flight Forward (UPSFF) Drone Package Delivery Operations in Columbus, Ohio
  
  UPSFF proposes to conduct drone package deliveries using the 29-pound Matternet M2 drone within an operating area that covers roughly 3.77 square miles in Columbus, Ohio. UPSFF will deliver small packages to pre-approved distribution centers (DCs) within the operating area. The operations would occur during daylight hours up to seven days per week, with no flights on holidays. This Draft EA was available for a 14-day public comment period so that the FAA can receive feedback from members of the public who may be affected by UPSFF’s proposed operations.
  
  The comment period closed on February 8, 2023, but a copy of the Draft EA is available here to view or download:
   
  • Review Draft EA, UPSFF Columbus (PDF)

Completed Records of Decision

• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for UPS Flight Forward Drone Package Delivery Operations in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (PDF)
  In this proposed action, UPS Flight Forward, Inc. (UPSFF) will conduct drone package delivery operations using the 29-pound Matternet M2 drone within an operating area that covers roughly 40.4 square miles in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. UPSFF will deliver small packages to pre-approved distribution centers (DCs) within the operating area. The operations would occur during daylight hours up to seven days per week, with no flights on holidays. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on December 23, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Issuing a Certificate of Waiver to Florida Power & Light Company for Drone Operations in Florida (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Florida Power and Light Company (FPL), owned by NextEra Energy, Inc. (NextEra), will conduct drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the remote pilot in command (RPIC), without a visual observer, and over people and moving vehicles. The waiver would apply to drone operations at NextEra-owned or serviced property in Florida. FPL uses drones to inspect and assess NextEra-owned or serviced infrastructure across Florida for damage, preventative maintenance, and post-storm assessment. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on January 3, 2023.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Zipline International Inc. Drone Package Delivery Operations, Salt Lake City, Utah and Surrounding Area (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Zipline International Inc. (Zipline) will conduct drone package deliveries using its 46-pound drone from one hub, or “nest,” in South Jordan/Salt Lake City, Utah, within an approved operating area that covers approximately 1,675 square miles of the Salt Lake City region. The proposed delivery operations from the South Jordan/Salt Lake City nest would occur during daylight hours up to seven days per week. Zipline is planning to conduct deliveries to pre-approved customer locations in 17 communities across the operating area, with a maximum of approximately 20 delivery flight operations per day from the South Jordan/Salt Lake City nest under the scope of the proposed action. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on December 23, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Amazon Prime Air Drone Package Delivery Operations in College Station, Texas (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Amazon Prime Air (Prime Air) will conduct drone package delivery operations from its Prime Air Drone Delivery Center (PADDC) in College Station, Texas, using its electric-powered drone that has an empty weight of 87 pounds and can carry packages weighing up to five pounds to eligible delivery locations within 3.73 miles. Operations from the College Station PADDC would occur during daylight hours up to five days per week. The operating area is divided into four sectors, with each sector having a maximum of approximately 50 delivery flights per operating day. Only one aircraft in each sector can be airborne at any time. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on December 9, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Causey Aviation Unmanned, Inc. Drone Package Delivery Operations in Fayetteville, Holly Springs, Raeford, and Pinehurst, North Carolina (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Causey will conduct drone package delivery operations at four locations in North Carolina – Fayetteville, Holly Springs, Raeford, and Pinehurst – using the 33-pound Flytrex Drone Delivery System. In each of the four locations, Causey will operate from its existing Distribution Centers (DCs) that serve as a central hub of operations. Causey is partnering with Flytrex to transport medical supplies, small consumer goods, and food items to pre-approved delivery locations within two nautical miles of its DCs. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on November 23, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for UPS Flight Forward Drone Package Delivery Operations in The Villages, Florida (PDF)
  In this proposed action, UPS Flight Forward (UPSFF) will conduct drone package delivery operations using the 29-pound Matternet M2 drone within an operating area that covers roughly 37 square miles in The Villages, Florida. UPSFF will deliver small packages to pre-approved distribution centers (DCs) within the operating area. The operations would occur during daylight hours up to seven days per week, with no flights on holidays. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on November 18, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Amazon Prime Air Drone Package Delivery Operations in Lockeford, California (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Amazon Prime Air (Prime Air) will conduct drone package delivery operations from its Prime Air Drone Delivery Center (PADDC) in Lockeford, California, using its electric-powered drone that has an empty weight of 87 pounds and can carry packages weighing up to five pounds to eligible delivery locations within four miles. Operations from the Lockeford PADDC would occur during daylight hours up to five days per week. The operating area is divided into four sectors, with each sector having a maximum of approximately 50 delivery flights per operating day. Only one aircraft in each sector can be airborne at any time. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on November 10, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Amazon Prime Air Drone Package Delivery Test Operations in Pendleton, Oregon (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Amazon Prime Air (Prime Air) will continue drone package delivery test operations and Durability & Reliability (D&R) flights at the Pendleton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Range in Pendleton. Prime Air projects operating a maximum of approximately 48 test flights per operating day over roughly 250 operating days per year. The proposed test flight operations would occur during daylight hours up to five days per week. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on November 9, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for UPS Flight Forward, Inc. Drone Flight Training Operations at “The Farm” in Fisherville, Kentucky
  In this proposed action, UPS Flight Forward (UPSFF) will conduct training operations under Part 91 that may include checking, proving, testing, operational developments, assessments, and validations using its 29-pound Matternet M2 drone. UPSFF projects operating a maximum of 32 flights per operating day at the Farm, combining both the Part 107 training operations and the Part 91 training operations. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on August 11, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Zipline International Inc. Drone Package Delivery Operations, Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Surrounding Area (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Zipline will conduct drone package deliveries using a 46-pound drone from one hub, or “nest,” in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, within an approved operating area that covers roughly 1,200 square miles of northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. Zipline is planning to conduct deliveries to pre-approved customer locations in 12 communities across the operating area. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on July 14, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Zipline International Inc. Drone Package Delivery Operations, Kannapolis, North Carolina and Surrounding Area (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Zipline will conduct drone package deliveries using a 46-pound drone from one hub, or "nest," in Kannapolis, North Carolina, within an approved operating area on the northern side of the Charlotte Metropolitan Area. Zipline is planning to conduct deliveries to pre-approved customer locations in 16 communities across the operating area. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for this action on February 28, 2022.
   
• Final Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Record of Decision for Wing Aviation Drone Package Delivery Operations, Frisco and Little Elm, Texas (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Wing Aviation will conduct commercial package deliveries using a 15-pound drone from two nests in Frisco and Little Elm, Texas, on the northern side of the Dallas Metropolitan Area. Small consumer goods and food items will be delivered to pre-approved delivery locations within the operating area. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for this action on February 9, 2022.
   
• Environmental Assessment and Record of Decision for UPS Flight Forward: Drone Package Delivery Operations, Wake Forest Baptist Health Routes, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (PDF)
  In this proposed action, UPS Flight Forward will modify some of its existing drone package delivery routes between three Wake Forest Baptist Health facilities in Winston-Salem, NC. UPS Flight Forward will transport packages including medical supplies and samples using a 28-pound drone. The route measurements will be 0.77 nautical miles (NM), 0.71 NM, and 0.31 NM, respectively. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for this action on December 17, 2021.
   
• Environmental Assessment for Wing Aviation: Drone Package Delivery Operations, Christiansburg, Virginia (PDF) Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for Environmental Assessment for Wing Aviation Drone Package Delivery Operations Christiansburg, Virginia (PDF)
  In this proposed action, Wing Aviation will be conducting package deliveries using its 15-pound drone from one nest in Christiansburg, Virginia. Wing will deliver small consumer goods and food items to residences and other delivery locations. Wing is amending its air carrier Operations Specifications so that it can operate at a higher pilot to aircraft ratio. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for this action on December 17, 2021.
   
• Environmental Assessment for UPS Flight Forward: Drone Package Delivery Operations, Lake Sumter Landing Route, The Villages, Florida (PDF)
  In this proposed action, UPS Flight Forward will be conducting package deliveries using a 28-pound drone. UPS Flight Forward will transport small consumer goods and food items from a new distribution center at Lake Sumter Landing to an existing distribution center approximately 2.38 miles away near the Elan Buena Vista Senior Living community in The Villages, FL. The FAA signed a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for this action on November 15, 2021.