The Ninth Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part a district court's dismissal of environmental groups' claims that EPA violated the ESA when it registered certain pesticide active ingredients and pesticide products without undertaking consultation with NMFS and FWS. The district court divided...
Aerial drones are emerging as an effective tool for environmental monitoring and enforcement because of their ability to reach areas that would be otherwise inaccessible or cost-prohibitive. However, the regulatory framework has not developed as fast as the technology, raising concerns. As EPA and other agencies consider using drones to monitor industrial sites and farmland, many landowners claim it would be an invasion of privacy. Using drones for inspections also raises legal questions about information obtained from drone flyovers and the associated evidentiary requirements.