AUVSI Statement on Multistate Petition for Review of the FAA’s Drone Delivery Environmental Assessment

October 1, 2026

AUVSI supports the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s final programmatic environmental assessment for drone package delivery and the national framework it sets. AUVSI takes seriously the environmental questions raised by states and communities. Noise, wildlife, and community impacts matter, and drone delivery’s long-term success depends on addressing them well. 

The assessment follows direction in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, in which Congress asked the FAA to develop nationwide programmatic environmental reviews for large-scale drone operations. The FAA was not acting alone. AUVSI commented on the FAA’s draft assessment in January, supporting a national programmatic approach. The FAA considered 241 public comments before finalizing the assessment. The final assessment is a reasoned framework that sets a national baseline, requires further review where operations would exceed the noise levels analyzed, and writes mitigation measures into operation specifications. Site-specific consultation on historic and wildlife resources continues. 

Because drone delivery operates in the national airspace, the FAA is the right body to lead this review. The right tool is a national framework with site-specific review where local conditions require it. Decisions about land use and zoning stay with local governments. Requiring the agency to repeat the same national analysis at every hub would duplicate work without adding protection. Public trust is earned through clear standards, accountability, and real attention to the communities where operations take place. 

AUVSI continues to support a durable national framework and welcomes dialogue with state officials, communities, and the FAA as operations grow.