Amazon must obtain state approval before establishing a commercial drone launch and landing facility in Westborough, Massachusetts transportation officials say, adding another regulatory hurdle to the company’s proposed delivery service that could extend into Worcester and more than a dozen surrounding communities.
In a letter sent last week, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Aeronautics Administrator Denise Garcia reminded Amazon that its Prime Air operation would require a state suitability and environmental review, along with at least one public hearing, before the company could receive approval for its proposed takeoff and landing infrastructure.
MassDOT had not received an official notification or request for review from Amazon as of the letter, according to an announcement released Monday, Oct. 26.
The development comes amid growing opposition to the proposed service, which would operate from Amazon’s existing fulfillment center at 64 Otis St. in Westborough and could eventually make as many as 1,000 deliveries daily to addresses within a 7.5-mile radius. Portions of Worcester would fall within the potential delivery area.
“The safety of Massachusetts residents is our top priority, and we take the concerns raised by families in Westborough and surrounding communities seriously,” Gov. Maura Healey said in the announcement.
“Before Amazon can move forward with its drone delivery plans, it needs to go through the state’s review process and address important questions about safety and environmental impacts. Our administration will continue working with local leaders and residents to make sure their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed.”
Garcia’s letter cites Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 39B, which requires approval from MassDOT’s Aeronautics Division for certain aviation facilities. She told Amazon that its proposed operations are commercial flights subject to the law and that the company cannot establish a takeoff and landing area in Massachusetts without first obtaining a certificate of approval.
The review considers potential safety hazards and adverse environmental effects, with at least one public hearing expected before the state makes a decision. The requirement concerns the facility from which Amazon’s drones would operate, rather than giving the state general authority over aircraft flying through federally regulated airspace.
Lawmakers welcome state oversight
State Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, who has been among the lawmakers pressing Amazon for more information, said the company must comply with Massachusetts permitting requirements before launching its service.
“The tech industry’s ‘move fast and break things’ ethos cannot override the long-held review and permitting processes we have in the Commonwealth that were established to protect hardworking families and the places they call home,” Moore said in the release.
Moore said he intends to work with MassDOT and local residents as the review moves forward.
State Rep. Hannah Kane, R-Shrewsbury, welcomed the commitment to a public hearing, saying residents should have an opportunity to raise questions about safety, privacy, environmental effects and quality of life.
“The MassDOT Aeronautics Division’s letter is a reminder that Amazon must still answer to the Commonwealth’s review processes, and to the people those processes protect,” Kane said in the announcement.
State Rep. Kate Donaghue, D-Westborough, also praised the state’s response.
“The people of Westborough deserve an opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns,” Donaghue said in the release.
The letter follows several efforts by state and federal lawmakers to scrutinize Amazon’s plans. Moore, Kane and Donaghue previously asked the company to pause implementation while engaging more extensively with affected communities.
Massachusetts lawmakers have also requested that Healey establish a task force to examine commercial drone operations and consider whether additional state policies are needed.
Federal lawmakers, including U.S. Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern and Lori Trahan, have sought a more detailed environmental review of the proposed Westborough operation.
Westborough and Worcester seek answers
The state intervention follows votes in both communities concerning Amazon’s expansion.
On Oct. 19, Westborough residents voted 510-13 at a Special Town Meeting to approve a bylaw regulating commercial drone operations, including activities involving takeoffs, landings and deliveries. The measure, which includes a $300 penalty for violations, must undergo review by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office before taking effect.
A day later, the Worcester City Council approved a request by Councilor-at-Large Gary Rosen for a public forum where Amazon representatives could explain the proposed operation and answer questions from residents and business owners.
The council rejected a separate proposal by Rosen seeking a legal review of Worcester’s zoning regulations to determine whether additional local oversight of future drone launch facilities might be needed.
No date has been announced for the Worcester forum.
Amazon’s proposed Prime Air operation would use autonomous drones to deliver packages weighing up to five pounds. The company has promoted the service as a way to deliver certain purchases in as little as 30 minutes. According to the announcement, Amazon’s drones can travel at speeds of up to 74 mph and typically fly between 205 and 370 feet above the ground before descending to deliver packages. The company maintains that its aircraft incorporate safety systems, including redundant propellers and cameras used for navigation and obstacle avoidance. Amazon also says its drones are designed to operate with reduced noise compared with earlier models.
Residents opposing the Westborough project have raised concerns about the frequency of flights, noise, privacy, wildlife and the potential cumulative effects of commercial drone operations over residential neighborhoods.
Amazon has said its proposed service would create jobs in operations, engineering and safety, and that it will continue communicating with local officials and residents as the project advances.
More approvals remain unresolved
The state approval process is one of several regulatory matters Amazon faces before launching its proposed Westborough service.
The Federal Aviation Administration authorized Amazon in 2024 to conduct certain drone operations beyond the visual line of sight of its operators. However, federal aviation authorization does not eliminate separate state requirements governing the establishment of launch and landing facilities.
In Westborough, residents have challenged the town building commissioner’s determination that the proposed drone operation qualifies as an accessory use of Amazon’s existing fulfillment center. The town’s Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to consider that challenge Nov. 2. The Planning Board is expected to continue reviewing Amazon’s proposal Nov. 10. MassDOT’s latest letter adds a state-level review process to those pending local proceedings, with a public hearing expected before any certificate of approval is issued.
For Worcester and neighboring communities, the process could provide another opportunity to examine the proposed service before commercial drone deliveries begin operating over Central Massachusetts.
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