A group of Nebraska legislators sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson this week inquiring about the EPA’s use of aerial surveillance of livestock operations in the state. The letter was signed by Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE),  Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Lee Terry (R-NE) and Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mike Johanns (R-NE).

The letter asks questions about the statutory authority that is being used by EPA to conduct these flights, as well as inquiring about the criteria being used to identify the livestock operations that are targeted for aerial surveillance.

“Farmers and ranchers in Nebraska pride themselves in the stewardship of our state’s natural resources,” the Nebraska lawmakers wrote. “As you might imagine, this practice has resulted in privacy concerns among our constituents and raises several questions.”

Congressman Smith added, “These operations are in many cases near homes, and landowners deserve legitimate justification given the sensitivity of the information gathered by the flyovers.”

The letter asks EPA to respond to questions by June 10, 2012. View the letter online here.